By ELOISE WALTON [email protected]
A project for a new aerodrome in Portimão council around two kilometres south of the Algarve Motor Park is currently being studied.
A map, which was obtained by a local resident at Portimão council, shows a proposed plan for a new airport just south of the Algarve Motor Park, with a flight path over the Monte Canelas residential area.
Local resident David Broad told the Algarve Resident: “A new airport in Portimão is not required. It is a waste of tax payers’ money and one more needless attack on the environment.”
He added that although it makes common sense that an airport be built in the area for access to the motor park, the new Radisson hotel, the cinema studios and theme park that are planned, local residents are taking it very badly, with many of his Portuguese neighbours not believing that it is true.
“The project has been kept very quiet so far and residents have not been told anything about it,” he added.
Pedro Poucochinho, a spokesman for Portimão Câmara, told the Algarve Resident: “There is a project for the possible construction of an aerodrome in the council and the area south of the Motor Park is one possible location that is being studied.”
He added that the project for a new airport arose due to several factors, one being the limited size of Portimão’s existing aerodrome, which has no room to expand and another being the requests from private entities such as the Motor Park.
“The PROTAL or regional development plan also allows for the development of three new aerodromes in the region, one in Loulé, one around Vila Real and another in the Barlavento area between Portimão and Lagos, which is another reason why the area is being studied as a possible location for an aerodrome,” said Pedro Poucochinho.
He added that although a study is underway and the impacts are being looked at, there is no foreseen date for the possible construction of the facility and if the location becomes viable, then local residents will be able to communicate their opinions to the council.
Michael Turner, a resident of Monte Canelas, said: “If the council is studying the location for an aerodrome, then maybe they should think about the peaceful location and why people move to the area in the first place.
“An aerodrome would cause pollution, noise and the quality of life for local residents would diminish, as well as causing property prices in the surrounding area to plummet.”
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