A decision has still to be made by Silves Câmara as to whether it will accept a proposal by the Fábrica do Inglês which could save the cultural and recreational facility from closure.
Last month, Silves Câmara held a meeting to discuss the proposal, which was then passed on for legal analysis before a decision is made (see the Algarve Resident editions December 11 and 18, 2009).
Manuel Castelo Ramos, director of Fábrica do Inglês, spoke to Portuguese newspaper Barlavento about the seriousness of the situation. The Fábrica do Inglês “could close at any moment, the situation is very serious,” he said.
“This is an irreversible situation if a decision is not made until the end of the year (2009).” According to Manuel Ramos, the facility currently receives between 20,000 and 30,000 visitors per year.
Fábrica do Inglês has requested that the Câmara make monthly payments of around 12,000 euros to keep the facility running for the next six months.
Manuel Ramos added that the proposal also stated that the Fábrica would transfer to the Câmara “the management and running of the museum, with the responsibility of hiring personnel, maintenance of the interior and exterior, and surveillance of the facility”.
Silves Câmara would, in return, receive the revenue made from the museum at the cultural facility.
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