News

Pre-registration for summer school runs June 13-21

Friday, 10 June 2016 12:34

Foto escola destiu The Formentera Council's youth services department has announced that enrolment for the island's 2016 summer school programme, l'Escola d'Estiu, will run Monday, June 13 to Tuesday, June 21. Parents interested in registering their children should visit the Citizen's Information Office, or OAC, Monday to Friday between 9.00am and 2.00pm. Signups can also be done online through the OVAC, www.consellinsulardeformentera.cat. The order in which families register does not indicate priority.

To be eligible for one of the 200 spots available, children must be aged three to twelve or have been born between 2004 and 2012. For families living on the island and included on the municipal padró, monthly tuition is €140 for single-child households and €220 for those with two children. Weekdays from 9.00am to 2.00pm and all July and August long, the summer programme is built around promoting educational leisure activities. In 2001, the local administration (then an ajuntament rather than a consell insular) assumed the mandate of running Formentera's summer school.

First island athletics day for schoolchildren

Thursday, 09 June 2016 16:42

foto atletisme Next Saturday, June 11, the Formentera Council's Office of Sport will put on the island's very first athletics day for school-age children. As CiF sports councillor Jordi Vidal reported, three municipal athletics clubs –Sant Joan, Sant Josep and Formentera– will gather in the Antoni Blanc sports centre for the event.

Vidal said there would be activities to develop cooperation, equality and camaraderie – “all crucial in sports,” he maintained. “Not only are these values that sports and athletics help cement, but they are ones the Council works to enstill in our local athletes.” As proof, Vidal pointed to a document drafted by the Council earlier this year on values in sports. Saturday's activities begin at 11.00am and go till 4.30pm. There will be a lunch break taken in two turns. A total of 75 children aged five to ten and from both Eivissa and Formentera are scheduled to participate. Entry is free and open to the public. Â

Council backs island's elderly care centres with 24k

Wednesday, 08 June 2016 14:09

convenis clubs de jubilats Jaume Ferrer, president of the Formentera Council (CiF), signed this morning deals with four of the island's pensioners' clubs. Under the deals, the Council will provide 24,000 euros in financial support to Formentera's pensioners and elderly residents. The 12-month pacts are aimed at funding the seniors' clubs' day-to-day maintenance, service costs and new programmes on the island in 2016.

Together with chairwoman Margarita Sanchís of Sant Francesc's association of retirees and pensioners, the CiF president signed off on a 9,000-euro funding promise. Another pact, valued at 6,500 euros, was struck with Rita Costa, of the Sant Ferran social centre and centre for the aged. Partnerships were also clinched between the Council and Maria Costa, chair of the la Savina retirees' and pensioners' club (4,500 euros) and Jaume Escandell, chair of la Mola's senior centre (4,000).

Council adds 5 electric Meharis to fleet

Wednesday, 08 June 2016 19:07

Foto presentacio E-Mehari The head of communications for the Spain-Portugal division of Groupe PSA, José Antonio León, along with his counterpart at Citroën Spain, Concha Caja, unveiled the new Electric Mehari on the Sant Francesc town square today. On hand for the ceremony were CiF president Jaume Ferrer, tourism councillor Alejandra Ferrer, transport councillor Rafael González and the chair of Formentera's tourism board, Carlos Bernús.

The automakers handed over five of the vehicles to the Council, which will put them to use for notification and inspection, tourism marketing and environmental services. The CiF president thanked the carmakers and vowed the measure would "contribute to a more sustainable Formentera.” He hailed it as a promising moment “for our island's model of growth and the protection of our natural resources, our landscapes and culture” and said the move meant “an improvement in Formentera residents' quality of life”.

León, for his part, highlighted a shared history between the Mehari and Formentera he said went back to the end of the 1960s. The PSA group head invoked the rollicking local response when the original Mehari arrived on the island and the iconic status it quickly gained. To him, the bonds between our island and the Mehari –“an alliance in favour of sustainable transport”– become even stronger with today's initiative.

Councillor Ferrer underscored that the dimensions of Formentera make it an ideal island for travel by electric car. She recalled Formentera's pioneering decision in the Balearics to install electric vehicle recharge points. There are now 32 public recharge spots and additional spots maintained by private establishments.

As Councillor Ferrer pointed out, the Council encourages the use of electric vehicles by providing free blue-zone parking and considerable rebates on the road tax as well as free entry to Ses Salines park and free vehicle recharges.

Council and Formentera NGO clinch deal to help developing world, raise local awareness

Tuesday, 07 June 2016 12:24

foto conveni formenterers solidaris 2016 Jaume Ferrer, president of the Formentera Council, and Maria Costa, chair of NGO Formenterers Solidaris, met today to put their signatures on a deal handing the group Council money to carry out aid projects in developing countries. The deal additionally sets out a plan to raise awareness among Formentera residents in 2016.

The year-long pact is renewable and provides 3,000 euros in funding. Also in attendance at the signing were CiF social welfare councillor Vanessa Parellada and Formenterers Solidaris's secretary, Teresa Costa.