News

Marià Villangómez library resumes lending and returns

Wednesday, 13 May 2020 14:53

cartell covid biblio CAT Starting tomorrow, Thursday 14 May, the Formentera Department of Culture will once again offer islanders the possibility of borrowing and returning material at Biblioteca Marià Villangómez. Individuals wishing to check out documents must schedule an appointment by sending an email to biblioteca@conselldeformentera.cat or telephoning 971 32 33 86 between 4.15pm and 7.15pm, Monday to Friday. Catalogue inquiries will also be tended by email or over the phone. The lending service will be open weekdays from 5.00pm to 7.00pm.

Education and culture chief Susana Labrador called it “the first step towards the island’s cultural and educational reboot” and insisted the goal was to “give islanders access to as many public services as possible, including cultural programming off-line”. “Preventing the spread of Covid-19 means a maximum level of safety must be involved”, she said, “so the process will take some time”.

Returns
A box will be set up at the door of the library building for drop-offs made between 11.00am and 1.00pm or 4.00pm and 5.00pm, Monday to Friday. Librarygoers can also drop off documents they’ve borrowed when they go in for an appointment. Returned material will be placed in quarantine for a fortnight.

Whether checking something out or making a return, library visitors must respect two-metre physical distancing requirements and apply hand sanitiser. Face masks will also be recommended.

The library will not be available for document review or studying. And in addition to the computer lab remaining closed, neither the printing and photocopy service nor Wi-Fi will be available for the time being. No in-person activities will take place during confinement de-escalation.

13 May 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera

Calling to mind traditional uses, Consell offers up 5,000m3 posidonia cleared from coasts

Wednesday, 13 May 2020 13:42

foto 2020 retirada posi1 The Formentera Department of Environment reports that, after a four-week operation that saw crews pull close to 5,000 cubic metres of posidonia seagrass from Cala Saona and Ses Illetes beaches, island residents are being encouraged to request their share.

“This is a great chance to put to work one of our most treasured natural assets”, said department chief Antonio J Sanz. Posidonia has historically had an array of uses: as animal bedding or tilling fields, for instance, or as isolation in country homes.

Islanders interested in repurposing some of the seagrass can visit the Àrea de Medi Ambient, make an inquiry via the OVAC, call 971 32 10 87 or send an email to mediambient@conselldeformentera.cat. The posidonia will be dropped off at no charge, and requests will be granted of up to three truckloads per person.

Conseller Sanz highlighted the collaboration that brought together municipal crews and the coastal authority over the past month. “They’ve kept beaches clean and other infrastructure operational even during these trying times of public health emergency”, he said.

This year’s posidonia haul amounts to ten times the volume removed in 2019, a change likely explained by natural factors like storms, which can trigger greater volumes of seagrass turning up on the coastline.

13 May 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera

Escola de Música i Dansa hosts photo contest

Tuesday, 12 May 2020 13:19

foto aplaudiment EMMD With the photo contest of the Consell de Formentera’s music and dance school approaching its second year, the Escola de Música i Dansa has announced that this year’s competition is going virtual.

Photo submissions will be accepted on social media site Instagram. The contest is open to all Formentera residents, not just those enrolled at the school. Entries, which must be contestants’ original work, should encapsulate the idea of “Music and/or dance in confinement”. Photos will be judged based on creativity and resonance with the theme.

To participate:

- Follow the Escola Municipal de Música i Dansa de Formentera (@escolamusicadansaformentera)
- Publish your photo, noting your full name followed by #EMMDFConcursFotografia2020
- Tag @escolamusicadansaformentera in the photo
- If you don’t have Instagram you can make your submission using a friend or family member’s account (ask for permission first)

Submissions will be accepted between 1 and 31 May 2020. A total of three winning entries will be picked and later displayed as part of the school’s upcoming photo exhibit.

12 May 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera

Painting of road markings starts on PM-820 from La Savina to La Mola

Tuesday, 12 May 2020 17:09

foto 2020 pm820 1 The Formentera Department of Island Services reports that work began today on an initiative to update road surface markings on highway PM-820 stretching from La Savina to La Mola. Crews started at La Mola lighthouse and are scheduled to wrap up three days from now in the town of La Savina.

The department judged the upgrades were a needed change after seven years, and deemed the present moment opportune considering, with highway traffic sparse, a minimum number of motorists stood to be impacted. Crews will repaint lines and highlight both horizontal road signage and pedestrian crossings. A solid double line will be painted in La Savina, and a solid single line will stretch 200 metres from outside town in the direction of Sant Francesc until past the petrol station.

Pinturas y Señales de Mallorca S.L. is the company responsible for completing the €48.223.49 job.

12 May 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera

Formentera OKs resumption of minor works projects

Monday, 11 May 2020 15:54

Under an order issued by the president’s office and adopted by the Consell de Formentera in an effort to facilitate the completion of small-scale construction projects, work on those sites can resume provided advance notice is given to local government.

Interested parties are asked to make their declaration on the OVAC at https://ovac.conselldeformentera.cat. In a bid to improve public services for islanders, Formentera’s Department of Territory has updated this and other online formalities since the invocation of emergency orders.

Online formality
According to territory conseller Rafael González, “in a simple process which can be completed online, companies provide a sworn statement to local government and crews can begin work within between one and ten days, depending on each case”. González said the aim was to streamline processing of such permits and “move towards reactivation of the economy in light of the public health crisis”.

At the same time, the Consell will mandate increased inspections on job sites to ensure that guidelines are followed.

Temporary reversal of noise ordinance
As Formentera eases out of confinement, the local noise ordinance has been placed on hold, meaning construction can take place in towns where it has traditionally been banned from 1 May to 15 October.

Construction crews are required to follow orders and directives from health authorities and the action protocol on occupational health that was laid down by the regional government to halt the spread of Covid-19 on Formentera.

11 May 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera