Consell to lower pontoon footbridge and review options at Estany des Peix

foto 2022v passarellaAna Juan, President of the Consell de Formentera, Antoni Tur, Councillor of Environment, and the director of work Pablo Quesada, have signalled that this week the pontoon footbridge at S'Estany des Peix will be lowered to reduce the visual impact of the structure. Further, the Consell has indicated that it is working with Tragsatec, which is overseeing the project, and the company that installed the footbridge on possible alternatives to the current structure.

"The visual impact of the footbridge is tremendous and this is unacceptable, for both Formentera and Estany des Peix", said President Juan. She defended the basic project which was presented in 2018 by the Balearic Ministry of Environment and endorsed by all the administrations involved in this natural site. "This visual impact must now be reduced while also taking into account the safety of the users who must use the facilities", she said, and pointed out that "we are working towards rewilding Estany des Peix and recovering the traditional and natural uses that we want for this protected area".

Councillor Tur asserted that the footbridge would be lowered "as much as possible, while still factoring for safety and imperative of integrating the structure into the surrounding area". He pointed out that this change does not mean delaying enactment of the new regulatory scheme at Estany des Peix. "We are seeking a sustainable solution which strikes a balance between the impact on the landscape and the safety of those using the footbridge", he said.

While the pontoons and ecological buoys were installed, about 400 dead weights and more than 300 kilos of garbage were removed from the bottom of S'Estany des Peix.

24 May 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera