The demolition and construction of new beach support in Monte Gordo was postponed to October, after a memorandum of understanding was signed this Tuesday between the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), the municipality of Vila Real de Santo António, the Port Authority of VRSA and the beach dealers.
APA had notified the dealers that the demolitions were supposed to be done by the 22nd of February, but they asked for more time for their renovation., which eventually happened.
According to the Chamber of VRSA, this means that “all concessionaires can work quietly during the next summer and will have more time to carry out the necessary refurbishment works, as the current constructions will only be demolished as the new ones are completed. ».
Despite this situation, says the municipality, «the implementation of the raised pedestrian walkway along the beach of Monte Gordo it will already move forward at the beginning of next week and will be completed by the month of May. It will be illuminated throughout, will have rest areas and will create a pedestrian and leisure circuit».
The structure will be two kilometers long, is budgeted at one million euros and, says the Chamber of VRSA, “it will be the first step in the great operation that will renew the face of Monte Gordo».
The new walkway "will also guarantee access to all existing beach facilities, which will thus be able to function normally until the 15th of October", adds the municipality.
After that date, dealers will have until February 8, 2018 to demolish the old structures and build new ones.
For Conceição Cabrita, vice-president of the Vila Real de Santo António City Council, «the decision was taken by mutual agreement between all parties and simultaneously allows for the preservation of the economic activity of the beach of Monte Gordo, listening to the concerns of the concessionaires, and starting the first phase of the rehabilitation work right away».
«This means that, next summer, we will already have a beach with better quality and new accesses, through an operation that will be developed in two phases», continues Conceição Cabrita.
The municipality of VRSA adds that "it has always been attentive to the concerns of the concessionaires, having managed to obtain financing for the construction of the bridge with community funds in the order of 85% to 90%, as initially it was the owners of the bars and restaurants that would have to pay for the bridge, in accordance with the legislation in force'.
«By finding this financing and by supporting the architectural projects, we are going to make each concessionaire save around 70 thousand euros, an amount that can be applied in the construction of new beach support», says councilwoman Conceição Cabrita.
The City Council of VRSA recalls that «the Coastal Waterfront Management Plan (POOC), approved by the former socialist executive of the municipality, only provided for the construction of 8 beach supports, but through its review and the set of meetings held between the City Council and APA, it was possible to install 18 units».
This means, according to the municipality, "that all entrepreneurs who had activity on the beach and had their situation regularized before the APA did not need to submit to a tender, which also puts an end to the precarious license system that was in force until to the moment».
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