The Office of Heritage of the Consell de Formentera has opened a line of aid for interventions involving cultural heritage assets, refurbishments of dry stone walls and the burial of power and/or telephone lines on the island. The deadline to apply for the grants is 31 July and the rules can be consulted in the Official Gazette of the Balearic Islands (BOIB) of 13 May and also on www.conselldeformentera.cat.

Raquel Guasch, heritage councillor, encouraged islanders "to take part in these subsidies to support local heritage as a sign of identity".

In total, €250,000 euros will initially be distributed as follows: 35% for interventions involving cultural heritage assets, 50% for refurbishments of dry stone walls and 15% for undergrounding utility cables. However, if funding remains in any of these, it may be transferred to other grant lines, in which case, priority will be given, first, to refurbishing dry stone walls; second, to cultural heritage properties; and third, to burying electrical and telephone lines.

Actions and interventions may involve restoring, conserving, consolidating or refurbishing cultural heritage assets designated as cultural interest sites (BIC) or catalogued elements (BC), as well as those that are included in Formentera's catalogue and inventory of the cultural heritage, provided the actions involve an improvement and enhancement of the property.

Regarding refurbished dry stone walls, the aid is for wall repairs carried out with traditional materials and techniques, as well as those involving replacement of concrete block walls or other unsuitable materials with dry stone walls carried out according to traditional techniques. Buried overhead power lines (medium voltage, transformer stations, low voltage distribution networks and individual branches) and telephone lines are also eligible.

Applications for these grants can be submitted at the Citizen Information Office (OAC; 6, Carrer Ramon Llull) or online through the Virtual Citizen Information Office (OVAC), accessible from the website of the Consell de Formentera.

18 May 2023
Office of Communication
Consell de Formentera