The Square

[snowytheboy]

I see on the webcam that the square is blocked off. Does anybody know if that is just for repairs to the road or have they decided to change the traffic flow.

[TomUK]

Snowy - Don't know if you've seen the square since it's transformation last summer. I've just had a look and as far as i can see the new traffic arrangements are as they've been since then, with the planters containing small trees and the small posts to border the route. The traffic goes round in a loop over what used to be the old car parking area. If you want to see more details of the changes look for the previous topics and photos of the square on this forum.

[laserblazer]

Just looked at some old shots and found one with us on it. Sat in front of the tent on the far right.

[EMM]

We were in town last night and the square was blocked off, coming down the in road you had to turn left past the off lisence.

EDP are doing work and there are temporary sub stations being installed.

Also on the in road opposite the turn into the " OUT " a mirror and additional bollards have been installed.

[Lesley Jean]

Just looked at some old shots and found one with us on it. Sat in front of the tent on the far right.

Blimey...... you have good eye sight to pick yourselves out.......

[TomUK]

Down the IN road - turn left past the off licence - blimey! - sounds like deja vu all over again!

Just had a look on the desk top computer (bigger screen) and now I see the barrier 'snowytheboy' mentioned. Didn't spot it on the laptop (SpecSavers here I come).

[snowytheboy]

I noticed when I was there last month that many of the flagstones, the ones that create the grey strip from the beach all the way to Smilers/Columbo's, were broken because of the traffic - maybe they will take this opportunity to replace them.

[TomUK]

Hope they don't replace them like for like. As has been mentioned earlier on this forum, they were far too thin to take the weight of heavy trucks and coaches. Which makes one wonder whether the direction of the traffic flow was not finally decided upon when they originally ordered the paving stones. The stones are ideal for pedestrianised areas, but not for heavy motor traffic.

[EMM]

Here we go again !!.

According to the ALgarve Resisdent a gropu has been formed in Carvoeiro with the aim of getting the council to return the village to the dirty car infested place it was before the changes of last year.
They want street car parking and cars returned to the square.

AS most of the group are local business they obviously have vested interests one being Smilers.
If they are so concerned about how the village looks why don,t they tidy up and revamp their frontage . It currenetly presents a tired and tatty image ( which was in keeping with the old square ).

Almost every resort has taken steps to get rid of cars , full marks to Lagoa for doing this in Carvoeiro lets hope that the 40 or so persons behind the proposed return to the past receive the response they deserve, This is the 21st Century.

[steve]

When I drove through today traffic was diverted past Soares and the slabs were being dug up.

[Lesley Jean]

I am with you on this one EMM, it looks so much better than before, much cleaner and nicer to walk through now, it would be better if they sort out the slabs and the traffic but that is all that needs doing.

[TomUK]

I suppose it's only natural for the business owners to want more visitors attracted to CVO - it's their lifeblood when all's said and done. Accomodating cars is surely one way to achieve greater numbers.

If tourism is down as all reports suggest, it will be difficult with reduced income for businesses to allocate much money for facelifting their premises. There seems to be a 'get Smilers' culture on various pages of these forums - ok, it's not the Ritz, but I've always found the staff very pleasant and it's ok for the occasional quick snack.

Like it or not, more and more tourists now hire cars to get about the various Algarve resorts and not providing car parking could mean them simply passing through. Serious thought should be given to providing well signposted parking on the outskirts (perhaps served by the shuttle train to bring folks into the town centre.

Those of you who live in CVO would seem prefer to keep the place nice and quiet and all to yourselves - but remember you too were just visitors once upon a time.

Live and let live folks!

[EMM]

We walk into town or park our car in one of the MANY free available parking spaces on the outskirts of the village.

Millions of euros have been spent on other ALgarve resorts whose town centres or beach areas are now almost traffic free ( Alvor, Albufeira, Villamoura, Lagos ) and do not appear to have suffered the loss of business that the business owners in Carvoeiro complain of.
Holiday makers do not want to dodge cars or climb over them when trying to walk along the pavements.
Nor do they want their view of the beach and sea blocked by cars parked in the square.

If you walk up to ALgar seco you wil see a new road layout with ample parking that will be available for the season.
The traffic problems last summer were mainly caused by cars parking in the spaces reserved for offloading giving the delivery vehicles little option other than to on occaision block the roads.

THe lack of signage to car park areas is a problem but one that can be easily solved.

Putting the clock back will not bring in more vistors.

[Gambrinus]

The keyword here is "up" as in walking up - except for the in/out route, every other road that leads to parking is up steep hills. Algar Seco/Church parking, Monte Dourado, Monte Carvoeiro, if you are going to park there, the way back to the car is a steep climb.
Not easy when you have trouble walking, are pushing prams, loaded with shopping or even stuffed full of food.

Additionally, the out road parking is destined for the residents of the buildings on the out road, which reduces the amount of available spaces in summer to almost none.

Whilst the pesdestrian zones in Armação or Praia da Rocha worked out beautifully, Carvoeiro simply does not provide the topography to emulate those projects. As long as they are unable to create a parking structure in a location reasonably close to the centre, they should have left the traffic solution and parking as it was.

[laserblazer]

If the bl**dy bar owners on restaurant hill didn't park their vans in the disabled parking spaces it would help