The new Mayor of Silves does not agree with the real estate and tourism project planned for Praia Grande, near Lagoa dos Salgados, but admits that "with all that has been previously approved, it will be very difficult now to alter the situation.”
Speaking to Sul Infomaçao, Rosa Palma reacted well to the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which was 'favorable with conditions’ issued on October 30 by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Paulo Lemos.
"While I was a councillor I was never in favor of this project in the way it was planned. Now that I am mayor my opinion is the same, but the opposition, of course, differs,” added the mayor.
Rosa Palma argues that in the Salgados area "we could have a sustainable project based on nature tourism, and not another project which is like so many others."
The Mayor of Silves still has doubts over the promises of jobs that was submitted by the developers which was one of the arguments used in the EIS to gain planning consent.
"During the construction phase there may be some jobs created, but then what? Just look at the situation at Herdade dos Salgados, which was stopped, leaving many unemployed," said Palma.
The mayor guarantee that she has not given up trying to change the project and admits that it is still possible to "enter an agreement with the developer to alter some aspects. There must be a way to reach a consensus and of seeking a way to do things differently."
Rosa Palma says that she already has been in discussion with environmental protection associations and the other entities that comprise the Friends of Salgados, "to talk with them and to discuss what they want at the site. The environmental associations have the possibility of challenging the project in legal terms, and I hope they do," she concluded.
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To sign the 'Save Salgados' petition, CLICK HERE
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Salgados petition:
The 'Friends of Lagoa dos Salgados' platform includes the following organisations:
A Rocha, Aldeia, Algarve123, www.algarvedailynews.com, Almargem, Birding in Portugal, Birdwatching Algarve, LPN, Portugal Resident, ProActiveTur, Quercus, SPEA