It's April 25th - a day of national celebration for the rights of Portugal's population to live under the rule of democratically agreed laws that protect personal and property rights - and a day on which Lagoa council continues to act in defiance of citizens' rights by ignoring inconvenient complaints from the public over alleged building irregularities at Pintadinho beach, Ferragudo.In the past two weeks the president of Lagoa council, (Francisco Martins gapresidente@cm-lagoa.pt ) has received many emails and letters complaining about the development taking place at Pintadinho where the construction of a new restaurant and private parking area inevitably will restrict public access to one of the Algarve favourite beaches.
The first report, 'Ferragudo - Pintadinho beach public access 'severely restricted' by local property developer' can be found HERE
As these communications to Lagoa council have been ignored, last week, a formal legal ‘Denunciation’ was submitted to the president of the council, pointing out that the work being carried out by a local property developer deviated from the published dimensions of the restaurant project that the council has approved and is in charge of monitoring.
Shortly after receipt of the ‘Denunciation’, two council employees visited the site. Building work continued.
Six days later a new ‘Denunciation’ was presented to the council president. Two council employees visited the site. Building work has continued.
As the project continues apace, it becomes apparent that that the dimensions of the work being carried out do not correspond to the project approved by the council in August last year.
The council, never short of excuses, blames the project approval on a court decision. “The works were authorised by the court, which takes precedence over the will of the council," said Martins when contacted by The Resident. (HERE). The Portugal News (HERE) also has covered the situation.
This may be true but the council’s role, at the very least, is to ensure the structure being built is within the single storey project dimensions it gave approval for. Anything less is highly questionable and shows the council to be acting ignorantly, unprofessionally or with collaborative guile.
Lagoa council has a legal and constitutional obligation to pay close attention to the legitimate complaints from members of the public, whether by letter or official Denunciation.
The granting of building permission that, in effect, annexes this public beach by restricting the available parking area is highly contentious, as is the removal of ecological maritime land that should have be protected by existing laws.
When the private 'Edd’s Beach' development is finished, should it ever be finished, the beach will may be free of the great unwashed and available for use by the customers of a new private facility.
Unhindered access to the beach is vital, should there be an incident requiring emergency vehicles. The beach already gets full up in the summer months but with severely restricted access. This summer, anger and chaos is predicted in equal measure.
By destroying the natural and protected ecological landscape and denying access to the beach to everyday folk, the council yet again is complicit in destroying the natural environment and denying access to one of the region's beaches, to facilitate a private enterprise.
The Edd's Beach website carried a Crowdfunding appeal which included the following description:
_________
EDD’S BEACH – PRAIA DO PINTADINHO
The restaurant will be 100 m2, * with 100 place settings for lunch and dinner with a soothing view on the Atlantic Ocean.
Outside we’ll have a bar with regular live music. Next to the bar there will be beach beds. We’ll have a private parking with 50 spaces.
(* Note: the approved project is for a restaurant of 77 m2)
VIP AND PARKING
We offer next level luxury for our VIP guests. We will create special arrangements for parking, seating, drinks and food in our VIP-space. Also we’ll have on site beach beds with optional premium quality VIP-beds.
We have 50 parking spaces on our private parking lot. Our guests will get an access pass that will give them access to the parking space. There will be a few VIP Parking spots.
__________
The developer, Edwin Opstelten, of Lifestyle Developments, has placed a curiously inappropriate placard at the site, with the message:
‘EDD’S INSPIRED BY NATURE’
Feel free to email Francisco Matins with your views, maybe attaching a link to this news item, and ask if the project is progressing within the stated dimensions.
Presidente of Lagoa Council, Francisco Martins gapresidente@cm-lagoa.pt
For a video describing the illegalities at the Edd's beach project, click HERE
