The Formentera Department of Island Services has enlisted staff from the SOIB Reactiva employment programme in upgrades, painting and maintenance in various corners of the island. Since starting in January, work has seen the individuals dispatched to indoor and outdoor areas of Sant Ferran primary school; the municipal football pitch and tennis and padel courts and places like Jardí de ses Eres in Sant Francesc to paint and perform upkeep.

26 March 2021
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera

The Formentera Inspection Services Department reports that the island’s roadworthiness test site will close for remodeling and upgrades during the first five days in February. Mechanics at “la ITV” will come back to refurbished workstations and local drivers will be tended to at improved and more accessible customer care windows. The site was designed originally with two workstations, but today’s team has grown to comprise three mechanics, two office staff and one station director. Other changes include enhanced ventilation, new noise-reduction equipment and upgrades bringing the space in line with regulations for health and hygiene. Barring unexpected changes, staff will turn out the lights at month’s end with a waiting-list of zero and reopen on 8 February.

FISD chair Antonio J. Sanz said the upgrades will mean “better service for motorists and improved workstations for staff”, both of which he described as “essential”.

29 January 2021
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera

The Formentera Infrastructure Department reports improvements are under way on Avinguda Miramar and Carrer Punta Prima in Es Pujols to expand pedestrian space, remove architectural barriers and introduce beautification with new street furniture and lighting.

Department chief Josep Marí said the project marked a continuation of previous betterment works in the town’s centre, and sought to implement aesthetic improvements, increase pedestrian accessibility and benefit area restaurants and shops and tourism generally. Like similar efforts in other Formentera towns, the operation is designed to make Es Pujols more people-friendly and redirect traffic toward the nearby ring road.

Overseen by UTE Xix Avenida Miramar, the €1.09m work began in December and is on track for completion in May.

26 January 2021
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera

Even after the Covid-19 public health crisis forced the island’s roadworthiness test centre (ITV), a service of the Consell de Formentera, to close from mid-March to 11 May, the centre will cap the year with a waiting list of zero.

Between twenty and thirty drivers waited for appointments as 2020 began, and when the ITV reopened in May arrangements had to be made to inspect the nearly 350 rental cars whose original testing dates had overlapped with the closure. Inspection services councillor Antonio J. Sanz said applause for ITV personnel was in order in view of the “extremely complicated year” and called recruitment of a third mechanic and reorganisation of work “essential” to successfully shaving the list of local drivers awaiting appointments down to zero and improving customer service. Sanz pointed out that the waiting list has stood at zero since September, and he underscored plans in 2021 to incorporate new equipment in order to further improve service.

At 1,542 inspections, July was the service’s busiest month, while 28 September was its busiest single day, with staff logging a total of 108 inspections. All told, nearly six thousand vehicles have been tested in the last twelve months.

The Formentera ITV employs three mechanics and two administrative assistants. The service is open Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 2.00pm, and this year afternoon appointments on Thursdays were added as well. The centre remains open until 8.30pm on those days.

To request an appointment for a vehicle roadworthiness test, call 971 32 31 30 or send an email to itv@conselldeformentera.cat.

31 December 2020
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera