News

Extraordinary plenary session 29 December

Wednesday, 29 December 2021 14:01

foto 2021xiipleExtra At a one-off plenary assembly earlier today, and tracking with a decision by the Advisory Council of the Balearic Islands, "yes" votes from the GxF and PSOE cabinet overcame Sa Unió abstention to reject Sunway SL's request for an ex officio review of planning permit 94/2007, which the Consell de Formentera granted to Morsanix SL on 11 May 2012.

Bartomeu Escandell, Councillor of Economy, Finance and General Services, described the Advisory Council's decision as "proof the technical and legal teams of the Consell de Formentera observe best practices; so I want to congratulate them on their work. I think today is a good day for Formentera and a bad day for those who continually question the actions of the Consell de Formentera".

29 December 2021
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

Formentera's large and single-parent families get cards to speed up discounts and benefits

Wednesday, 29 December 2021 09:30

foto 2021 carnet The Formentera Office of Social Welfare (Conselleria de Benestar Social, CBS) has begun issuing cards that "make it easier for large and single-parent families to navigate the discounts to which they are entitled", according to Rafael Ramírez, Councillor of Social Welfare.

CBS has registered 140 large and 5 single-parent families on Formentera that can benefit from discounts, and since the new cards started going out a few weeks ago, some thirty families have already received them. Cardholders can use the cards —some generic and for the entire family unit, others personalised and assigned to each member— at an array of locations, even off Formentera. "Till today, every time members of large and single-parent families had to request a service or discount, they had to present a CBS-issued certificate; the card makes the process simpler and, most importantly, more convenient. The cards can be used elsewhere too, like to visit museums off the island", explained Councillor Ramírez.

Various state, regional and local benefits exist for large families that use services such as transport, education, housing, leisure and culture. To educate islanders about the initiative, CBS has put out a round-up of Consell de Formentera services and discounts, like those at nurseries, the school of music and dance, municipal summer camp programme and more.

29 December 2021
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

On 5 January, the Three Kings will tour Formentera

Monday, 27 December 2021 10:15

In association with the Three Kings Association, the Formentera Office of Culture is pleased to report that Their Royal Majesties have confirmed that this year they will tour the main roads and streets of the island on 5 January. Like last year, the visit will be adapted to public health regulations and carried out in compliance with safety measures.

The Three Wise Men of the East will traverse the island without stopping to ensure compliance with public health protocols. The cavalcade will start at 4.00pm next to La Mola lighthouse and from there Their Majesties will continue down PM 820-2. The first village on the itinerary will be La Mola (Avinguda de la Mola), where the troupe plans to arrive by 4.20pm. At roughly 4.40pm they will pass in front of Es Caló de Sant Agustí en route to Sant Ferran de ses Roques, where revellers will be able to greet the travellers on Carrer Joan Castelló i Guasch at around 5.15 p.m. The route will then pick up along the ring road toward Carrer Universitat. From there they will continue down PM 820-2 to Sant Francesc, where they will enter the village through Carrer Pla del Rei at approximately 5.40pm and then continue along the Es Cap highway to the municipal sports pitches at 6.00pm. They will return to Sant Francesc via Carrer de sa Tanca Vella at around 6.20pm. Finally, they will head towards La Savina, where they plan to arrive at roughly 7.00pm. The cavalcade will enter the town on Avinguda de la Mediterrània before continuing along Passeig de la Marina and Carrer de s'Almadrava.

Children are encouraged to see Their Royal Majesties at the closest point to their home to avoid crowds. The Consell de Formentera has prepared a map with the route for those interested. It is available at agendaformentera.cat.

Susana Labrador, Councillor of Culture and Festivals, thanked the Three Kings Association for "all their involvement and efforts to make possible Their Majesties' visit and all the magic they bring".

Finally, she called for islanders to be responsible, "so that, like last year, children can enjoy the magic of the Three Kings as safely as possible".

27 December 2021
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

cartell 2021 cavalcada

A look back: Formentera takes stock of firefighting service in 2021

Tuesday, 28 December 2021 10:30

foto 2021 bombers EPIS A In 2021 the Formentera Fire Brigade logged 163 interventions, the same as in 2020. The brigade responded to 12 fires, compared to 35 the previous year. Three of the interventions involved uncontrolled burns, another three involved buildings in urban areas and one involved a building in a rural setting. The fire crew put out two fires affecting street furniture and three affecting vehicles. Fires on forested and agricultural land burned less than half a hectare in 2021, while they burned less than one ha in 2020 and 5.3 ha in 2019.

In 2019, the year before COVID-19, the fire brigade performed a total of 213 services. "As has been the case elsewhere, the drop in interventions in recent years is related to the new exceptional situation caused by the pandemic", explained Josep Marí, Councillor of Interior, who pointed out that "for the second straight year the brigade has called off visits of children's summer camps, and has not participated in Consell-organised activities or other prevention work". Marí praised staff for their willingness and professionalism in a year marked by the public health crisis.

Other interventions

In 2021 the brigade was also dispatched in 26 rescues, while last year they performed 23 actions of this type. Over the course of the year there were 12 false alarms, compared to 19 false alarms one year prior. The crew was mobilised to provide technical assistance 51 times in 2021, compared to 43 times in 2020.

New equipment

In 2020 the Consell de Formentera Fire Department expanded and updated brigade gear with 15 new units of personal protective equipment (PPE). The gear cost the island €27,975 plus VAT.

Training

Councillor Marí also highlighted efforts by local government to invest in training. Six training sessions cost the Consell de Formentera €39,637.40.

- Flashover and ventilation: 35 hours, three firefighters (€5,987.40).
- Responding at height in urban settings and securing extension ladders: 16 hours, four firefighters (€2,485).
- Fire extinguishing on boats: 21 hours, two firefighters (€1,500).
- Responding in traffic accidents: 24 hours, ten firefighters (€3,740).
- Rescues in natural areas: 16 hours, four firefighters (€3,425).
- Basic course for new firefighters: 105 hours, 15 applicants (€22,500).

The year involved two new hires, bringing the crew's total size to eleven: ten full-time professionals and one reserve firefighter.

Vehicle fleet

Currently the service's fleet consists of two rapid response vehicles, a heavy pump for rural settings, a light pump for urban settings and a rescue van.

28 December 2021
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

Formentera announces tier II of public health alert

Thursday, 23 December 2021 13:56

foto 2021 nivell 2 The Consell de Formentera reports that Formentera will enter the second tier of public health alert from today following publication of the development in the Official Gazette of the Balearic Islands (BOIB). As of yesterday, the accumulated seven-day incidence is 92 per 100,000 inhabitants and 134 per 100,000 inhabitants at 14 days. The positivity rate is 15.52%. In the Balearics at large, the average cumulative incidence at seven days is 346 per 100,000, with a positivity rate of 12.35%. In addition, confirmation of seven new cases brings the total to 23 local cases, of whom 22 are receiving at-home monitoring and one remains in the intensive care unit of Can Misses.

This was the message conveyed today at a meeting between Francina Armengol, First Minister of the Balearic government, Ana Juan, President of the Consell de Formentera, the other premiers of the island administrations, Palma's chief official and members of the Federation of Local Entities in the Balearic Islands (FELIB).

President Juan explained that the change would mean new recommendations for social and family gatherings in the coming days. Among them, unvaccinated islanders are encouraged to stay home from celebrations and, at gatherings where food and drink is served, attendees are asked to keep FPP2 masks on as long as possible.

COVID certificate

The COVID certificate remains in force for individuals entering bars and cafés and other celebrations with indoor capacity of over 50 people.

With COVID case counts rising and Christmas celebrations approaching, the President urged islanders to "stay very responsible. Our cases are up, and we must be more cautious than ever". President Juan underscored the importance of getting vaccinated, and insisted, "Experts say the third dose is proving effective against Omicron, so that is what we are recommending".

23 December 2021
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera