New portable toilets at les Salines park

Foto banys parc naturalThe Formentera Council Office of Environment has begun building portable toilets near four beaches in Parc Natural de les Salines, including Es Cavall d'en Borràs, Es Molí de Sal, El Pirata de Ses Illetes and Es Ministre. Work started yesterday and is scheduled for completion by tomorrow. Each unit comes with facilities for men, women and individuals with disabilities. Daisee Aguilera, the Council's environment councillor, reported on the details of the initiative —and that the toilets would be free to use— at a press conference convened today. The project had a price tag of 48,000 euros (VAT not included) which was picked up by IBIFOR, the company that oversees public access to les Salines.

Reduced yearly fee
Councillor Aguilera also took the opportunity to announce the Balearic coastal authority's decision to lower the annual tax levied on the Council for its use of les Salines car parks. Heretofore, the administration faced yearly costs of 45,000 euros. This year, the amount will fall to 4,200 euros. As Aguilera pointed out, the coastal authority has slashed the tax on the condition that the Council put 50,000 euros into building shaded areas around the park.

Aguilera said that amount wouldn't be enough to install all the shaded areas required but indicated the administration would go about installing them progressively. She also hinted at the possibility of renewing the Balearic coastal authority pact next year — “to move forward with the shaded areas project”. According to the councillor this year's discounted tax is “a step in the right direction” and heralded the cooperation seen so far between the two administrations. Construction will pick up again at the end of the season so as to keep inconvenience to a minimum.

Additionally, the Office of Environment has put out an informational brochure —available free at points of entry to les Salines— about use of the park and sustainable transport. Besides info about opening and closing times, the brochure contains information about entrance fees at the park, which change throughout the summer and —as always— are waived for Formentera residents. The same information can also be accessed on the Formentera Council's website. Vehicle entry into the les Salines park is regulated through September 30.