Urgently needed upgrade and maintenance works at the port in Baleeira on the far south west coast of the Algarve near Sagres will be "very important" for both fishing and for tourism according to the delighted mayor of Vila do Bispo council on hearing of the €2 million spend confirmed last week.
Adelino Soares said the municipality’s contribution to the work will be around €250,000.
"This is definitely one of those projects that we can not let go and we will do everything to make it a reality as soon as possible," said Soares who said the redevelopment work at the port of Baleeira was to be largely funded by Polis Litoral, the programme of urban renewal and environmental improvement for the western Algarve.
"We want to invest in this project which will bring many more people to Sagres and will create better conditions at the port of Baleeira which is visited by tourists, is used by our fishermen but has been totally neglected," said the mayor.
The investment zone for the Polis Litoral Southwest Alentejo and Costa Vincentian programme comprises 9,500 hectares covering much of the municipalities of Sines, Beja, Lagos and Vila do Bispo. The overall budget is €47 million.
Other ports are waiting for investment from other funders, namely Portimão and Faro which have been waiting for confirmation of the agreed government money since last summer, and Olhão which was promised immediate funds last year from a visiting Secreatry of State to repair the degraded dock surfaces which now are dangerous for people to work on, needless to say no money has been forthcoming.
