The Environment Minister’s visit to Olhão last Monday for discussions with mayor Antónia Pina has resolved the Armona island land classification problems that have been the focus of international attention - due to the efforts of a British couple whose half-built home was under order to be demolished.
The construction of the seaside property owned by Paul Roseby and James Tod had been authorised by Olhão council despite the land area being national maritime reserve.
‘Demolition Man’ Sebastião Teixeira from the Portuguese Environment Agency was quick off the mark and sent the couple a demolition order with a start date of August 1st, demanding the property be removed despite the fact it was built on the footprint of two old island properties that had been there for years.
António Pina explained at the ‘Don’t invest in Portugal’ demonstration (here) outside his town hall on August 17th, that the zone on which the couple’s house is situated includes 139 additional properties and that he would "continue discussions" with minister João Pedro Matos Fernandes to have the area recategorised so as to legalise these properties that, as a Loulé court confirmed, should never have been built.
A change to the zone, using a Plano Intervenção e Requalificação, had been blocked by Teixeira but the minister has allowed the zone to be redrawn thus removing any legal obstacle to the 140 properties remaining where they are.
The minister also has extended Olhão council’s concession to manage the island for another 30 years, thus kicking Teixeira further into touch and putting under renewed pressure his continued role as head of the environment agency.
The demolition order is still in play for Tod and Roseby's property but the good sense of the minister in the case so far, with a weather eye on his Socialist Party colleague Pina’s bid to continue as mayor after the October 1st elections, should ensure the demolition order is scrapped beacuse the land is being reclassified.
If Teixeira tries any sneaky moves to demolish the property in a dawn raid, this will draw opposition from the council and be blocked by whatever legal means are at its disposal.
This is a major coup for mayor António Pina whose successes in support of the Ria Formosa islands so far have gained him few direct votes as Culatra, where the settlements of Farol, Culatra and Hangares are situated, come under Faro council.
Armona is in Olhão’s remit and the mayor rightly can claim the credit for getting this matter cleared up with the help of the minister. This means more voted for Pina whose tenure has been marked by a lack of collaboration and a 'my word is law' attitude.
Recategorising 140 illegally sited properties is no mean feat and hopefully the British couple soon can resume the construction of their dream home and start to enjoy the island life which they have sought.
Paul Roseby commented to algarvedailynews today, "We are beginning to believe our nightmare ordeal is coming to an end. We are very grateful to João Fernandes for putting our case and fellow islanders concerns at the top of his agenda.
"Snr Pina has done well to champion our cause in the name of justice and common decency. However, we still have two legal cases outstanding at considerable financial cost to us and to the Portuguese taxpayer, so the sooner a guaranteed date for the instigation of the PIR is confirmed the sooner we can all get on with living our law abiding lives in peace.
"Thank you to all our old and new friends, on and off the Island, who have supported us in our numerous hours of need. We hope no taxpayer should be brutalised and discriminated against in such a way, ever again"
