The Formentera Department of Youth is pleased to report that the municipal summer camp programme got under way on Thursday 1 July with the theme “Som artistes” (We’re artists). Two hundred seven 3 to 12 year olds signed up to take part in Escola d’Estiu 2021, which will play out in the three schools of Sant Francesc, Sant Ferran and la Mola.

“It’s about offering alternative leisure and educational activities for the island’s school-age boys and girls, while helping households strike a work-life balance”, explained department chief Vanessa Parellada.

The councillor thanked local families for their trust in the service, not least considering that for the second year running, the summer programme will be held in line with health and safety protocol stemming from covid-19. Parellada also praised the team of two directors and twenty-two activity leaders “for their dedication to ensuring the school is adapted to kids’ needs”.

This year as last, tuition help exists for families affected by the coronavirus crisis. The Escola d’Estiu is weekdays 8.00am to 2.30pm and runs until 31 August. Activities and logistics will be adapted to health and safety protocol.

5 July 2021
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera

Earlier this morning, Consell de Formentera president Alejandra Ferrer gathered in the Port de la Savina control room with Francesc Antich, the top-ranking official at the Balearic Port Authority (Autoritat Portuària de Balears, APB). Also on hand at the encounter were local vice-president Ana Juan, mobility chief Rafael González, primary sector chief Josep Marí, APB director Jorge Nasarre and APB’s delegate on Eivissa and Formentera, Ignacio Revilla.

Formentera’s representatives reiterated previous calls to respect a June 2020 agreement between APB, the regional government and Consell de Formentera by reducing ferries on the Pine Islands line. They also called for urgent compliance with a maritime safety report drafted by the Harbour Master’s Office which sets the maximum number of simultaneous manoeuvres in the harbour at two.

Moreover, the island’s decision-makers insisted it was crucial that, in size and individual capacity, watercraft adapt to fit the port and not vice versa. “The capacity of each individual craft must be compatible with our island’s capacity to receive people and vehicles”, said the president.

Peak-hour saturation makes for a situation in la Savina harbour that President Ferrer described as both unsustainable and potentially dangerous. She underscored the intense strain that so many passing boats place on the environment of ses Salines reserve, which sits square in the path of the Eivissa-Formentera line.

“We need the responsible agencies to work together not only to maintain the same high quality service as always, but to keep the port and inter-land route safe, and keep the reserve sustainable and protected”, said Ferrer.

Heavy maritime traffic
Meeting attendees got a feel for day-to-day goings-on in the harbour and for the intensity of boat traffic there. They also witnessed the overlap that can occur in regular services. Eivissa ships offering day-trips to Formentera add an extra layer of complexity, as do recreational craft arriving at and leaving the marinas.

For their part, APB reps spoke about new control and information systems in the harbour. Formentera officials voiced discomfort over noncompliance with the 2020 agreement and insisted key areas of concern be incorporated into a new proposal that will be submitted to the plenary assembly.

Officials from the local and regional governments agreed to hold meetings with the Balearic ministries of mobility and environment and the Harbour Master’s Office to move forward with studies and steps to guarantee the full array of requested measures.

2 July 2021
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera