A reader of the Região Sul online news service has sent in a report of environmental vandalism at Praia dos Tomates, more correctly known as Praia da Rocha Baixinha-Oeste, between Vilamoura marina and Praia da Falésia.On Friday, May 11th, a few days before the start of the new bathing season, an extensive excavation was being carried out, on land leading to the beach.
"I was astonished by what I saw on the cliff on the locally named Praia dos Tomates," in an area covered by laws relating to public maritime domain and under the care of Albufeira Council, "an excavator was "digging and digging, in a protected area near the cliff," followed by a roller. Plant roots have been dug as the reader’s photos show.
The Região Sul reader, who works in the jury service, also complained that in that area nothing can built because it is a protected area, so this digging work is a crime under environmental legislation.
In fact, any work must be duly identified with a notice board, which includes details of the owner, the type of building, the construction area, the authorising body, etc ... which in this case is non-existent, hence the work can be categorised as clandestine.
The reader and news service have asked open questions to those in charge of protecting ou couyntryside:
- What is being done in that protected area?
- Who authorised the work that has begun with the removal of earth?
- What measures are being taken to ensure that this area remains protected, as provided for in the relevant law?
- Who authorised the work that has begun with the removal of earth?
- What measures are being taken to ensure that this area remains protected, as provided for in the relevant law?
The editor of Região Sul stated that this news must be considered by the competent authorities and deserves an adequate response, not least for his reader’s benefit.
