Save Formentor Beach!

[Brooksy]

I've signed it too!

 

[Chelseadons]

Andrew thanks for giving further coverage in the Sunday bulletin, the numbers continue to grow and your support is very helpful.

 

[Tora]

Hello fellow Formentor lovers! ♥ Sorry it’s been a few days since I sent an update, but quite a bit to report…

We are now up to 108 signatures, which is great, but momentum has really slowed down so we need to get rallying again! Ideally I’d like to get at least 1000 signatures. Once we’ve reached this amount, the plan is to send the petition with a formal letter in the post to both Sr. Juan Carlos Plaza - Jefe de la Demarcación de Costas en las Illes Balears and Sr. Bartomeu Cifre Ochogavía - El Alcalde de Pollença, Ayuntamiento de Pollença.

So, please can everyone who cares, share the petition through as many mediums as possible (Email, Facebook, Twitter etc.), asking people to sign but also share with their networks too, to try and reach as many people as possible? I know, many of you have done this already so thank you, but let’s keep sharing to remind people that may have missed it the first time round!

To make it easier, you can copy and paste the templates at the bottom of this post and send out to your networks! ☺

So far, I have contacted over 60 local businesses via Facebook and email, explaining the situation and have asked them to sign and share the petition with their networks, to try and gather more local support, including restaurants, Lancha La Gabiota (The boat company that do the daily trips to Formentor) and other businesses. Jose Maria from Stay has already signed!

Radio Pollenca got in touch with me off the back of my FB message, to ask who we were; if we were an association etc. and mentioned they may like to invite someone in to talk about the matter on the radio.

I have replied explaining that we are not an association but a group of locals, expats and holidaymakers who share a common love for the area and said if they would like someone to come to talk about it, I would be able to organize.

I’m waiting to hear back from them, but if anyone has any suggestions of a person who feels strongly about the matter and would be happy to speak on the radio, please let me know! I personally think our message would have more clout coming from a local business owner, and of course, they will also speak Spanish/Mallorquin, which would be necessary I’d have thought!

On another note, did anyone see the photograph published by the Town Hall this week, with representatives from the concessionaires AAVV (beach management company) and Hotel Formentor, MARSAVE (organization that look after security protection) and the municipal authorities, posing on Formentor beach, holding 4 large Blue Flags to mark being awarded Blue Flag status once again?

For those that don’t know, the Blue Flag is a distinction that the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) award each year to those beaches and marinas in Europe that promote cleanliness and safety, environmental education and collective action for the protection of the coastal environment.

Despite the current state of Formentor Beach, this year it has been awarded Blue Flag status once again... strangely enough the photo was taken right in front of Hotel Formentor, the part of the beach that has been beautifully restored since the storms took place! I wonder why?!

You can see photos here:
http://tinyurl.com/qads99h
http://tinyurl.com/pbvlkw4

Right, think that’s all the news at the mo…Would love to hear any other thoughts/ideas on other ways we can build support! In the meantime, let’s keep sharing! x

Templates:

ENGLISH
We’ve already broken through the 100 signature mark for the petition to restore the beautiful beach of Formentor, but we still need more! Calling all holidaymakers, ex-pats and locals from the Pollença municipality, please sign the petition and share it with your friends! http://chn.ge/12O1l0w

It is important for the following reasons:

The Formentor beach has always been a major attraction for tourists and mallorquins alike. It is famous for its fine white sand and crystal clear waters that have long made this beach a haven of beauty that many liken to paradise.

After the storms in the early part of 2013, the beach was virtually destroyed, as the sand was washed away to reveal rocks and stones.

Although the stretch of beach in front of Hotel Formentor seems to have been restored with new sand, the rest of the beach remains in ruins. It not only looks terrible, but it is impossible to sit on the beach or enter the sea without much difficulty.

It is in the interest of the town hall and the coastal authorities in the Balearic Islands to restore this beautiful beach to its former beauty.

If not, they run the risk of damaging it’s fantastic reputation; losing loyal visitors and future potential visitors, and as a result, not only losing an icon of Mallorca, but also an important source of income for the north of the island.”

SPANISH
“Ya hemos superado 108 firmas para la petición para restaurar la hermosa playa de Formentor, pero aún necesitamos más! Llamando a todos mis amigos Pollensines, por favor que firmen la petición y compartanla con sus amigos! http://chn.ge/12O1l0w

Es importante por todo esto:


La Playa de Formentor ha sido siempre una atracción principal para los turistas y mallorquines por igual. Es famosa por su fina arena blanca y sus aguas cristalinas que durante mucho tiempo han hecho de esta playa un paraíso de belleza.

Después de las tormentas en la primera parte de 2013, la playa estaba prácticamente destruida, como la arena fue arrastrada y lo que quedaba era nada más que rocas y piedras.

Aunque el tramo de playa en frente del Hotel Formentor parece haber sido restaurado con arena nueva, el resto de la playa permanece en ruinas. No sólo se ve terrible, pero también es imposible sentarse en la arena o entrar en el mar sin mucha molestia.

Es en el interés del Ayuntamiento de Pollença y de la Demarcación de Costas en las Illes Balears para restaurar esta hermosa playa y hito interesante a su antigua belleza.

Si no, se corre el riesgo de dañar su reputación fantástica; perder los visitantes leales y también los visitantes potenciales futuros, y como resultado, no solo se perderá un icono de Mallorca, sino también una importante fuente de ingresos para el norte de la isla.”

 

[Tora]

Here is the most updated list of signatures! http://bit.ly/17N0QXF

 

[favie]

So far so good Tora......everyone that LOVES Formentor should sign! Their future experience there won't be the same.....unless something is done and the petition hopefully will make that happen.

 

[its cd]

Here is the most updated list of signatures! http://bit.ly/17N0QXF

Tora

I am getting an access denied message - not sure if its my mac or same for everyone

 

[Tora]

Thanks Favie! CD - Is it possible to attach a pdf to forum posts? If so I'll upload the document and that should work! x

 

[pollensa]

Hi Tora.

I'm afraid it is not possible to attach documents to a post.

But isn't it possible for people to view the signatories on change.org itself? In that way the privacy of those who have chosen to be anonymous will be respected. Also please don't give access to anything that gives out email addresses as I'm afraid that will attract the spammers.

 

[Tora]

Hi Pollensa, I'll take a look but think it's only possible for people to see on the change.org website, the last 5-10 people that have signed. FYI guys, I posted this write up on Trip advisor also...http://bit.ly/11gYy03

 

[Sparky]

Hi Tora, the link you have just posted is for a reply box on this forum .

 

[Tora]

Oops...Thanks for the heads up Sparky! Here's the right one! Cala de Formentor (Beach) - Barcelo Hotel Formentor, Port de Pollenca Traveller Reviews - TripAdvisor

 

[Sparky]

Just read it Tora and it's very good, lets hope this helps the cause .

 

[debz1]

Has anyone visited Formentor in the last couple of weeks?

We won't be returning to PP until September so it would be good to have some updates on the state of the beach and photos if possible. The part of the beach that is in ruins is from the Hotel beach bar, near the lifeguards, down to the harbour. If you love this iconic beach please, please sign this petition and share it with your friends as we really need to keep building support for this cause.


http://www.change.org/es/peticiones/que-se-restaure-la-playa-de-formentor-a-su-antigua-belleza

 

[lollipop]

I spoke to a young couple who are visiting the island for the first time and they had been over. I asked was it a mess but they said there was a bit of shingle near the edge but nothing that worried them. Maybe they knew no different but new eyes looking at a problem .

 

[debz1]

Interesting to hear what the young couple said about Formentor beach. I wonder if it has been cleared up a bit since we were there in June. It certainly wasn't a bit of shingle then it was huge stones and rocks all over the beach, with a very obvious narrow pathway that had been cleared for people to walk along. In front of the hotel the beach was in pristine condition as usual, but from the beach restaurant to the jetty in was in a disgusting state (See photo in Tora's petition link)

http://www.change.org/es/peticiones/que-se-restaure-la-playa-de-formentor-a-su-antigua-belleza

Would love to hear any updates from recent visitors as I really want to go there in September but am not willing to take out a mortgage for a sunbed unless it is back to its former beauty

 

[whaleywanderer]

We visited Formentor beach recently and pleased to report that we didn't see any of the problems mentioned. We did however see a big mound of rubble which had obviously been raked up, looks like word must have got round!

 

[debz1]

Brilliant news whaley

 

[TalaiaTrio]

We went last week and didn't notice any difference from previous years! I did take some pictures - I'll see if I can figure out how to load them!

 

[TalaiaTrio]

Here you go...

 

[Belladonna]

Not sure if this has anything to do with it, but it does seem a coincidence!

http://psm-pollenca.balearweb.net/post/116065