The civic alliance ‘Save Faro’ today announced that it has submitted a report to the Public Ministry about the project to build a new bridge to Faro island, a project which includes preventing non-resident traffic in the summer months.
"It is inconceivable and absurd that a work with an astronomical cost of €4 million partly paid for by Faro council will entail prohibiting non-residents getting to the island by car in the months of June, July and August," read the statement from the alliance.
José Vitorino, former Mayor of Faro and leader of the Save Faro alliance, criticised the way the process has been conducted and says that the new bridge is part of the plan approved by Faro council, but the current design and environmental impact assessments are being undertaken without any consultation with local agencies.
Vitorino also criticised the "connivance" of the current president, Rogerio Bacalhau and his predecessor, Macario Correia, with this type of procedure which he considers "undermines the powers of municipal bodies and the constitutional principle of equality by prohibiting access to the island by car to non-residents during the summer."
The former mayor stressed that the two mayors of Faro "always suggested that people could access the island during the summer months" and that "although the detailed plan provides certain conditions, this should not mean a ban."
Vitorino said this is a very complex matter which should have been agreed between the Ministry of Environment and the council, but "the documents were presented in a very disorganised manner and it now is necessary to unravel the puzzle" to understand that "if the project is approved as per the Environmental Impact Report, the situation is final and the work will start.”
"This is all done with the purpose of deceiving the public, because all the people we consulted think they will still be able to reach the island and the beach in their cars during the summer, but they will not be able to if the bill passes as it is."
The alliance also had presented its objections during the public consultation to the Commission for Coordination and Regional Development of the Algarve.
José Vitorino said also the project is sumptuous with a budget of €4 million "largely funded by the council, which at the moment has, as you know, a very difficult financial situation.”
With the current design, non-residents would have to leave their cars in a parking lot on the mainland and gain access to the beach via public transport, limiting a right that people have had for over 60 years, said Vitorino.
