The Minister of the Environment, João Pedro Matos Fernandes, has come to the rescue of the city’s Socialist Party mayor, António Pina (pictured).
On Monday's agenda, as minister João Matos Fernandes visited Olhão's town hall, was the hot topic of the feud between mayor Pina and Sebastião Teixeira at the Portuguese Environment Agency which has resulted in Teixeira issuing a demolition notice to a British couple who were half way though building a home on Armona island.
The property in question, owned by Paul Roseby and James Tod, is on Public Maritime Land, as are 139 other Armona island properties, yet the house received planning permission from the town hall. Two old structures were demolished and a new house was started, only to be halted with a demolition notice with a start date of August 1st, 2017.
Mayor Pina said he was very pleased with the talks he had with the minister, "I have reason to be satisfied, and there are many Olhanenses who have houses on the island of Armona."
The optimism of António Miguel Pina is based on what he calls a commitment from João Matos Fernandes that, "by the end of 2017, the all-important Armona Intervention and Re-qualification Plan (PIR) will be approved by Fernandes."
This moves a line on the Armona map to incorporate this group of illegal properties with other legal houses on Armona, a island that comes under Olhão council’s management.
In addition, the minister made it clear that before the end of 2017, the council’s concession for Armona will be renewed for another period of 30 years, along with this new land deliniation so as to “to safeguard the interests of all those who own a house on the island.”
Mayor Pina’s praise for the minister approached lyricism, commenting that, "as a result of these talks, I once again came to realise that we have in the Ministry of the Environment a skillful negotiator, a man who is attentive to the details of an area such as the island of Armona and of its inhabitants. We have been able to demonstrate to the minister the importance of these two documents, and he has been sensitive to our appeals."
Paul Roseby commented to algarvedailynews this morning,
“We haven't heard it officially and no contact has been made to tell us the news, but if this is true and we are included in the new PIR, we are thrilled especially for all the islanders who deserve peace and security for the very first time on Armona.
"Pina has pulled the rabbit out of the hat for his citizens and we thank him hugely. It's what we've been fighting for.”
“Today is a very happy day for all Olhanenses, particularly the residents of Armona island," said António Miguel Pina after leaving the meeting with the Environment Minister.
Comments
A direct answer to Peter would be: the thing the guys did wrong was to invest in a corrupt society. The sweet talking tourist agencies and their hangers-on carefully edit their ad-speak. I think I’m the only one (besides our beloved editor here) who tells the truth about this place, and the silly thing is, nobody likes to believe these things till they’ve been shafted. Wise-up guys. This stuff is the order of the day in this country.
The decision makers must consider the environment of this fragile landscape and insist that the dwellings must be removed and removed by the people who put them there in the first place.
A hotel in East Algarve did not get planning permission recently, because the proposed building would be too close to the sea.
How can the Environment Minister allow houses to remain on this or any of the islands of the Ria Formosa, taking into consideration the above decision.
It is either a Natural Park and wildlife sanctuary or it is not.
The decision he and his colleagues will make, will influence the direction of this wonderful amenity that should be enjoyed by all and not just the few.
And what about the imperfect legal advice received by Rosebery & Tod? What happens to their lawyer? Portugal is awash with lawyers, but do they know anything about the law on planning and development?
It seems from Natasha´s posted reply that there is risk still hanging over the part-built house, at least until the PIR comes into effect.
Hopefully, even when their house is sorted and (ha ha) they are fully compensated including for their stress - Roseby & Tod will remain on board helping all the other thousands caught up in Portuguese bureaucratic and court nightmares. Also, to keep it newsworthy - how about it lads ? A long running theatrical show in the London West End - with the catchy title "Nightmare on Armona Island".
First, Peter, they did nothing wrong. They were simply caught in the crossfire between Olhão council and APA which has fortunately been put on hold during 'negotiations' with the environment ministry... the August 1 date was never set in stone, it was a date at which point demolition could go ahead. If there is any justice in this situation, the demolition will not happen before the PIR comes into effect, and once that happens, James Tod and Paul Roseby can restart the building of their island home. The whole experience has cost them thousands of euros, and nights of lost sleep - not to mention heightened anxiety - and the 14th month delay will have meant that a lot of building work has to be redone.
But the worst of this situation is that it could so easily have been avoided... like I say, if there is any justice in this situation, the next step will be to remove the man in this controversy who believes lives are expendable.
While I have every sympathy for Rosebery & Tod, I feel that they are not yet out of the wood. Has anyone actually told them what they did wrong?