Spring forward - but don't fall back?

[kate1]

I saw an article online this morning (can't now find it or I would have posted the link) saying that the Balearics (and possibly the rest of Spain) are voting today on whether to put the clocks back this weekend, or whether to keep them as they are in order to lengthen the hours of sunshine at the end of the day. The tone of the article seemed to suggest that this was definitely going to happen in the Balearics - does anyone know if this is the case? Many thanks!

 

[sws97sdg]

just read this too online, not sure even if they vote in favour they can just do it though!!

 

[Nick]

Heard about it a while ago. Apparently it's all to do with GMT? Portugal and Spain are in line with the UK.
Personally I think it's a great idea and wished we'd had the guts to do it years ago to give us extra daylight.
A further bonus is that we'd then be on the same time zone so we wouldn't have to mess about changing watches etc going to PP!
Hope it gets the vote!

 

[mike_dublin]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...ep-summer-time-as-spain-turns-back-the-clocks

Can't see Spain changing the clocks for different regions, but for the whole country, quite possibly.

 

[Nick]

Googled it and can't find anything but it should read CET, Central European Time, and Franco changed them 70 years ago to be in line with his Nazi mates apparently.
Spain and Portugal line to the west as we do.
It certainly makes sense.

 

[Sparky]

I read that Mariano Rajoy (the president in waiting ) is in favour of adopting GMT in Spain, i am all in favour of stopping the the changing of the time completely, it's such a pain having to alter everything that has a clock on it but only time will tell .

 

[mike_dublin]

This was the article from April -
http://www.forum.puertopollensa.com/miscellaneous/12964-news-reports-2016-a-4.html#post110161

 

[Sparky]

I have just read in the UH that although the Balearic government have voted to keep summer time Madrid has said it is not possible.

Here is the link :- http://ultimahora.es/noticias/local...de-balears-puede-mantener-horario-verano.html.

 

[mike_dublin]

I have just read in the UH that although the Balearic government have voted to keep summer time Madrid has said it is not possible.
...

A regional change was never going to be a runner.
A national change should be possible, even within the EU regulations.
Can't see it happen before 2018 at the earliest.

 

[Sparky]

It does seem strange though that the Canary Islands which are Spanish use GMT, so one region is already on a different time zone.

 

[Molt de Renou]

It does seem strange though that the Canary Islands which are Spanish use GMT, so one region is already on a different time zone.

I was just going to say the same thing.

The vertical distance from the Canary islands to Madrid is around 950 kms and from Menorca to Madrid around 700, so could qualify.

The distance from the furthest western point of Spain ( Canary Islands ) to the furthest eastern point ( Menorca ) is by far the largest of any other european country.

 

[STOXIE]

How will the airlines work? Could be hard work not knowing which time to turn up for a flight. I would have thought it would have been sorted by now.

 

[copper]

Wish they would change it as really like it when we go to Lanzarote and time the same

I can remember many years ago when we went to France one Autumn that France changed their clocks at a different time to us and caused us great confusion when catching a ferry !

 

[car77]

Am I being a bit thick?
If they don't put the clocks back this weekend and we do, won't we be 2 hours behind them?

 

[Sparky]

Am I being a bit thick?
If they don't put the clocks back this weekend and we do, won't we be 2 hours behind them?

Yes but it's not going to happen, the central government in Madrid have blocked the Balearic government's decision .

 

[Nick]

That's not what the "I" paper said. They say the Balearic Islands are going to keep summer time?
I'm trying to work it out too! I was hoping if they didn't change they'd be on the same time line as the UK?
Anyone know?!

 

[Sparky]

This from the MDB here :- Parliament approves not turning the clocks back » Balearics » News » Majorca Daily Bulletin

All parties in the Balearic parliament today approved an "institutional declaration" which calls for maintaining summertime and not turning the clocks back an hour in autumn.

The Balearics is the area of Spain most affected by the change to the clocks. It is the part of the country where the sun rises the earliest and then sets the earliest. For this reason, national government is being requested to maintain summertime.

Parliament has therefore backed the movement Illes amb Claror which opposes the hour's change on account of the Balearics geographical location. By sticking to solar time, it maintains, there will be less energy consumed and more time to enjoy daylight.

The Majorca Restaurants Association is backing parliament's declaration "one hundred per cent". Its president, Alfonso Robledo, says that not changing the clocks would allow an extension to the tourist season. "It is necessary to work twelve months a year with more hours of sun."

The national ministry for industry, energy and tourism points out that the Balearics cannot unilaterally modify the time. The hour's change is regulated by a European Union directive. The ministry adds that the consequences of not turning the clocks back are unknown.

The clocks are set to go back an hour at 03.00 this Sunday (30 October).