This evening, the conference hall of local hotel sa Volta was the site of a presentation on the proposal to extend metred parking to Es Pujols. Islanders in the crowd heard explanations from Formentera Council representatives on plans for a pilot run in June ahead of a full rollout by July. The definitive system will mean 455 regulated, blue-zone parking spaces (320 new spaces plus 135 already-available spots in the underground car park at plaça Europa). Overflow parking, meanwhile, will remain unchanged—free and unmetred.
Formentera Council president Jaume Ferrer explored some of the rationale for taking the system to Es Pujols roads—“more rotation in blue-zone areas and more vibrant commerce”, he offered.
Mobility secretary Rafael González spoke about the success of a similar venture in La Savina, a town whose historic parking crunch was brought to heel by regulating how drivers park—a move that involved rebranding commercial areas as “blue zones” and residential ones “green”.
González said officials hoped blue-zone parking would have a similarly soothing effect on the situation in Es Pujols. While drivers must respect metred parking rules across the town's network of non-pedestrian roads there, overflow car parks and spaces next to the town's roundabout will remain open.
Es Pujols's blue zone
Formentera residents will receive full rebates on parking fees up to one car per person. By means of one yearly application, local drivers can get authorisation to park across the island, much as with the current system in La Savina. Blue-zone passes will be valid island-wide, for 24 hours in summer.
Non-residents must pay to park (€1.20 an hour) from 10.00am to 12 midnight, Monday to Sunday, from May to October. Patrols will continue until 2.00am.
To meet parking demand near popular shopping areas, a new, 15-minute pass will be available to all drivers. Parking in Es Pujols will be free from November to April.
Some motorists —individuals with reduced mobility and scooter drivers— will enjoy free parking. So will people operating electric vehicles. Drivers of hybrids will get discounts of 50 per cent. Lorries used for loading and unloading commercial goods will be limited to 30 minutes in appropriate areas. Quad bikes meanwhile, are prohibited everywhere—in metred zones and overflow lots.
PIMEF, Formentera's coalition of small and medium-sized business owners, is putting on a new round of day-long training sessions called “Fent Pimef”.
Last night, the plenary hall of Formentera's care centre for dependent persons became the gathering point for islanders curious to learn about a proposal to regulate parking in Sant Francesc. Area residents got a chance to hear Council representatives explain plans for a June trial run, which, by July, could give way to full implementation of a system that includes 450 regulated, blue-zone parking spaces and more than 630 overflow spots.
The Formentera Council's Office of Culture and Education reports that the Marià Villangómez library will observe special operating hours during Easter holiday next week.
Two Formentera Council officials —President Jaume Ferrer and environment secretary Daisee Aguilera— met in the administration's hall of ceremonies today with a pair of Aliança Mar Blava representatives —Chairwoman Sandra Benbeniste and Secretary Flor dell'Agnolo— to extend the two entities' partnership another year.