An event to launch a new hush hush German car is to necessitate the closure of the old bridge, an arterial route in and out of Portimão old town.
The October closure is to allow the space to be used for a series of outdoor dinners for members of the press.
The bridge carries about 5,000 vehicles a day to and from the municipal capital and Portimão council is all for the closure, a position not matched by Lagoa council on the east side of the Arade where the main event is being held.
"There is no logic in closing the bridge for 22 days to serve dinner," according to Lagoa Mayor, Francisco Martins, who added that it would be an embarrassment for the population and that alternatives should be found.
The aim is to use the road for holding dinners for over a thousand journalists during launch the period. The event is planned to be held at the Arade Pavilion in Parchal despite the local mayor’s concerns over the bridge closure.
Lagoa, Monchique, Portimão and Silves Câmaras as well as the Algarve Tourist Board and 16 private companies in the tourist industry, collaborated in the 2007 construction of the pavilion which lies in the Lagoa council area.
The event promoter has dangled a figure of €5 million ‘to the local economy’ by holding the car launch in the Algarve. Road company, Estradas de Portugal, confirmed that the council has submitted a request that "is being examined."
Desiderio Silva, president of Algarve Tourism, in an emollient mood said that "from the point of view of tourism, it would be beneficial," but says he "respects and accepts the opinions of others."
