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Faro Council reclaims possession of Faro Beach Campsite without resistance

campsite repossessionThe Faro Beach Campsite has returned to the hands of the City Council, as of Monday morning. The eviction of the campsite residents occurred “peacefully”, and now renovation works will finally go ahead after months of delays.

The occupants of the park have been removing their belongings over the last few days, and continued to do so as the Council arrived at the campsite on the date set for the beginning of the renovations. Despite the continuing removal work, the Council was able to regain ownership of the space.

Surrounding the council officials were mountains of rubbish and belongings that those who had live there for several years had left behind. Rogério Bacalhau, mayor of Faro, like the rest of the city council executive, was at the campsite yesterday morning. The mayor wasn’t able to escape some angry remarks and protestations from residents, but the present GNR officers were not required to act. The mayor exchanged a few words in person with Luis Arsénio, president of the Camping Friends and Users Association, who have ruled over the park for many years and attempted to prevent the council from reclaiming it at any measure. Though their argumentative discussion lasted no more than a few brief minutes.

Still, Mayor Rogério Bacalhau, speaking to reporters, said a word of appreciation to all those who had removed their belongings. “I would like to thank them for their cooperation. This was a stage in their lives, but in the future they can continue still come here, it will just have to be like everyone else.”

According to the mayor, “there are three people who are being aided by social services due to having no other place of residence. We are creating solutions so that people can get out of here and be relocated properly,” he said.

There are some mobile homes that, for now, remain in the campsite and will not be removed by the owners because “they are unable to move them. When we do the cleaning process, we will remove them” the mayor explained.

Given the surprisingly calm and serene repossession process, Faro Council’s threat of suing the campsite users’ association last week if they refused to leave seems to have worked. The need for it “does not arise. This was our reaction to the possibility of a new legal dispute. Given the current situation, none of this required,” said the mayor.

"People left because they have been threatened, but it ends peacefully and people are leaving normally without creating any problems," said Luis Arsénio, the president of the clingy campsite users’ association.

Regarding the revitalised future campsite that will be born at the site, Mr. Arsénio believes that “the municipality will be disappointed, because the campsite that will be made will not be able to be a park where people can enjoy and have their leisure time with dignity”. This goes against the belief of some who believe that the renovated campsite will play a great part in attracting tourists to the area, as the new site is intended to allow for much shorter stays and thus more transience. Perhaps Mr. Arsénio is bitter.

Regardless, it is the end of a captivating saga for those who have followed the Praia de Faro Campsite case. The goal is that this summer, the space will have been completely renovated to receive all new campers. Still, given the delay in the start of the construction, which was scheduled for the 1st of October originally, this is a guarantee that Rogério Bacalhau cannot give: "we will try, but we cannot guarantee" he concludes.

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