News

Formentera Astronòmica is for stargazers

Thursday, 13 May 2021 13:52

foto 2021 ASTRO C Earlier today Alejandra Ferrer attended a presentation of Formentera Astronòmica, a first-time event whose participants, in the words of the Consell de Formentera premiere and tourism chief, “can take advantage of Formentera’s low light pollution to gaze at the stars from the privileged position our island affords us”. Also on hand at the presentation was Alessia Comis, organiser for Formentera Astronòmica, along with Santiago Jiménez, who heads collaborating group Astronomical Association of Formentera and AAF treasurer Jordi Alemany.

President Ferrer said Formentera Astronòmica would happen in the island’s low season, 11–13 June. She described it as “a chance for star-loving tourists and local families to enjoy and discover a world of excitement”.

Alessia Comis outlined the family-friendly programme of lectures, night-time expert-led stargazing sessions, VR intergalactic journeys, activities and crafts. She also highlighted a theme dinner under the stars in a special, soon-to-be revealed location.

Organisers have also announced renowned speakers like Imma Aguilar Nàcher, director-general of the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT), and Carlos Briones, researcher at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), both of whom will be on hand sharing experiences in an informative and accessible way. Speakers will explore questions about the existence of extraterrestrial life, the nature of space debris and fact and fiction in Sci-Fi films. Comis also touted “El visitant de les estrelles”, an online drawing contest for children and young people under 20 due to play out on social media.

Santiago Jiménez, for his part, hailed the freshly-created event and the promise of new opportunities it holds for AAF. “We’ll basically try to use the two days we have to explain what makes Formentera’s sky wonderful”.

Details about activities, speakers and signups, as well as the complete Formentera Astronòmica programme, can be found at https://www.formenteraastronomica.com. Formentera residents benefit from a 50 % discount. Formentera Astronòmica is organised by the Formentera Office of Tourism in association with the Tourist Agency of the Balearic Islands (AETIB).

14 May 2021
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera

Natural treatment to curb mosquitoes and chironomids at Ses Salines wetlands

Wednesday, 12 May 2021 13:09

The Formentera Department of Environment reports that, from tomorrow, crews will begin spraying wetland areas of Ses Salines nature reserve with a natural substance designed to keep numbers of mosquitoes and chironomids in check. Operations will center on typical larvae hotspots like Estany Pudent, Estany des Peix and Salines d’en Marroig.

Public entity Tragsa will pilot the €34,278 operation, which will see two workers fumigating over 32 days this summer until late October.

Bacillus thuringiensis israeliensis is a natural substance that acts specifically on the larvae of target insects.

12 May 2021
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera

Island welcomes 350 participants of this weekend’s Formentera All Round Trail

Wednesday, 12 May 2021 09:56

foto 2021 FART B Set to take place this weekend, the tenth Formentera All Round Trail has contestants are gearing up for three races: the 72km “Fart”, the 42km “Half Fart” run Saturday and the 21km “Tros de Fart” on Sunday. The events are presented by Consell de Formentera, Grup Esportiu Espalmador, Penya Esportiva Són Marçal and Elitechip, and will draw nearly 350 athletes.

On Saturday 15 May, participants in the Fart will set out from La Savina harbour and circle the entire island before finishing where they began. Runners in the Half Fart will leave Platja des Arenals and do half of the same route. Exceptionally, the 2021 Tros de Fart will be held a day later, on Sunday 16 May, with participants starting in Es Caló and finishing at Port de la Savina. All three races begin at 9.00am. Remember: the Formentera All Round Trail can also be done in relay pairs.

Respect for the environment
The Consell reminds participants that running in the environmentally-friendly event means following certain rules, since part of Fart takes place in protected areas. In such areas, (which organisers say will be duly marked with signage) noise-makers and shouting is prohibitted and runners are to stay on the established path and use only rubber-tipped running sticks.

Runners must also refrain from littering, including containers and wrappers. Gels and energy bars must be marked with individual bib numbers, and runners who leave discarded items along the route face penalisation. There will be five refreshment stations on the Fart trail, three on the Half trail and one on the Tros de Fart.

13 May 2021
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera

‘Formentera, every corner counts’: 137 upgrades and beautification projects and €1m-plus in investment

Wednesday, 12 May 2021 11:24

foto 2021 cada raco B The Formentera Department of Land is pleased to present its appraisal of “Formentera es cuida a cada racó” (Formentera, every corner counts). Department chief Rafael González gave a positive assessment of the campaign, which, from November to 30 April, saw islanders carrying out 137 projects to improve or beautify areas of the island.

González described the pandemic relief initiative, which logged €1,039,051 in total investment, as “an image-enhancement success” and, considering associated activity for islanders employed in construction, painting and maintenance, “a boost for the local economy”.

Simplified subsidy requests
To encourage improvements, the island’s government made requesting permits easier and subsidised planning fees and taxes, reducing one related tax by 95% (the legal limit) and eliminating fees and the public thoroughfare occupancy tax outright. All told, islanders and hometown businesses have seen savings of €42,342, with what would typically be €44,160 in fees and taxes reduced to just €1,818.

González insisted that, heritage sites aside, simplified permit requests were here to stay. Under new rules, plans to carry out upkeep and uprades must be communicated to the OAC (Citizen Information Office) and OVAC (Virtual Citizen Information Office) 24 hours in advance, or ten days in advance for work not involving expanded square metres.

12 May 2021
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera

Formentera lowers speed limit in towns

Tuesday, 11 May 2021 12:23

foto 2021 velocitat 30 The Formentera Department of Mobility reports that the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) has introduced new speed limits on roads in urban areas effective 11 May. “About forty signs with the new speed limit have gone up so drivers know the rules on each road”, explained FDM chair Rafael Gonzalez.

In towns, motorists are limited to 30 km/hour on most, though not all, streets. The following rules apply:

20km/hour on single-level streets (no raised pavement) like the promenade in La Savina, Carrer de Guillem de Montgrí in Sant Ferran, Carrer de Àngela Ferrer in La Mola, among others.
30km/hour on all other urban streets, including Pla del Rei in Sant Francesc and Carrer de s’Espalmador in Es Pujols, among others.

A 30km/hour speed limit is also in effect on stretches of highway that cut through towns, like on Avinguda de la Mediterrània in La Savina, Avinguda de Joan Castelló i Guasch in Sant Ferran, Avinguda de la Mola in La Mola, among others.

The speed limit is 30km/hour at roundabouts, and 50km/hour on ring roads on the outskirts of Sant Francesc, Sant Ferran and Es Pujols.

Local decision-makers passed the speed limit reduction in late 2018 as part of the island’s Sustainable Mobility Plan. González pointed out that the new limits have already been in force on roads where upgrades have been performed recently.

11 May 2021
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera