'Illegal homes' on the Algarve’s islands in the Ria Formosa are to be razed to the ground in an operation that should be completed by the end of 2015 at a cost of €16.6 million.
Portugal’s environment minister, Jorge Moreira da Silva, announced today that he is moving forward with the demolition of 835 buildings in areas “at risk of coastal erosion.”
The hit list includes 808 homes located on the Barreira islands of the Algarve, namely on Praia de Faro, Hangares, Farol and its islets, plus 27 in Sao Bartolomeu do Mar in the municipality of Esposende in Braga district.
The Ministry of the Environment has set aside €16.6 million from the €300 million package announced for ‘coastal intervention.’
"We do not want scenes of destruction by the sea, as witnessed in Fuseta some years ago, repeated elsewhere," said Jorge Moreira da Silva who added, "there are people and assets to be protected in places where there should not be people or assets."
For decades these and other buildings have been threatened with demolition due to the risk of coastal erosion and storm damage. The minister has not made clear what is to happen to the occupants of the homes, many of whom are fishermen earning their living from the Ria Formosa area.
Comment is expected from the mayors of Faro and Olhão, and community groups representing those families affected.
