Carvoeiro's new 40 mtr military com tower

[Michael Crane]

Daisy was there!

Daisy Protests.jpg (29.52 KiB) Viewed 11083 times

She showed her contempt for the Camara by showing them her backside!

Photo: ALGARVE RESIDENT
REFERENCE

[Mike,Chislehurst]

Well if the bloody tower does go up, I hope she's the first one to P*ss on it!

[Michael Crane]

Well if the bloody tower does go up, I hope she's the first one to P*ss on it!

[HampshireRich]

Dear Hampshire, thanks for your post but if you were in this situation I'm sure you wouldn't just roll over and give up, we certainly wont!
We feel we have a great case and are pursuing it as vigerously as possible. I have experience in the UK of going to the dep PM office to appeal local planning errors and winning that case. Local officals do sometimes make mistakes and not think things through, we believe that that has occured here and are confident of being able to make them see sense.
I'd prefer your best wishes and support in future!
thanks,
SR

Stephen - I wish everyone nothing but the best in this situation - however, my point being is that once these authorities get their claws into something, it is very difficult to even find who to get to to protest - the last few posts show that - the Mayor is wiping his hands of responsibility for this. I certainly wouldn't roll over and give up as you say if I lived there, and I really feel for you all, but personal experience in the UK tells me it will take something extra-ordinary to get this changed.

Good Luck

HR

[steve]

Although it has no impact on the present campaign, the obvious longer term strategy lies in foreign residents registering to vote. There is a potent power block here which would have significant impact on local camara elections. A bunch of foreigners with no ability to influence the choice of president is one thing but a bunch of foreigners with voting rights can begin to flex some muscle and would have to be listened to.

[Ant1969]

This is an absolute nightmare, and an outrage. I wish all of you who are affected the very best of luck with your campaign. Surely common sense will prevail?

[halj]

Here's the latest information:

The Lagoa Camara had a meeting this morning (Thurs Apr 9) to review its actions on the tower in light of the realization the siting of the concrete base is in violation of its own building codes. Officially, the Camara's position is that while ADM is still a "viable" site for the tower, no decision on its location has yet been made.

A representative group of residents has been invited to meet the President of the Camara (or Mayor) on the afternoon of Monday, April 13. The invitation came from Dr Cabrita, the member of the Camara who initially confirmed to me that the work going on next to our villa was connected to this tower. I asked him what was the purpose of the meeting - given that we know the Camara wants to build a tower in ADM and the residents don't want that to happen. It was, he said, to "discuss the situation". We have a small group of 4 owners (2 Portuguese, 2 foreigners) that will go to this meeting.

Unofficially, we have heard the Camara is having second thoughts and is looking for a way out. We have also heard a GNR officer from Evora was in the neighbourhood today and has told the president of the Carvoeiro Junta there are at least two alternative sites that can be used.

In summary, we can now be hopeful - but not certain - the tide is turning. For that reason we are keeping up the pressure and will make our case vigorously at Monday's meeting after which I'll provide another update. In the meantime I wish everyone a very happy holiday weekend.

[Rob F]

That's great news Hal!

Good luck Monday, it looks like the Camara is coming to their senses...

[Mike,Chislehurst]

Halj, this is beginning to look rather encouraging, you have led this protest from the start extremely well and it appears it's now beginning to bear fruit. Very well done and the best of luck on Monday.

[EMM]

Lets hope that the alternative locations are not just moving the problem into someone elses back yard.

[SJ & RE]

Goodluck.Keep up the peoples power

[EMM]

PLease look at WWW.algarvenet.com and click on the Algarve resident section.
There is a report about the " TOWER".

Lagoa Camara is passing the buck and suggests that the site in question is OK providing that the boundary regulations are adhered to.
It also denies that an alternative location is being sought.

[halj]

A delegation of residents from ADM and our lawyer met with the President of Lagoa Camara (The Mayor) and one of his councillors, Jaime Botelho. As was perfectly proper, the meeting was conducted in Portuguese, so my understanding of what transpired is based on what our lawyer (and our Portuguese neighbors) told us.

For those who have followed the story, Mr Botelho was the man who told my wife and me that the piece of Camara land in the heart of ADM was being "beautified". It turns out he is not, as we thought, the Camara official in charge of the project, but an elected official of the Camara. He was miffed, that we had mis-identified him. The mayor was also indignant that he had been "insulted" one way or another. I asked our lawyer to tell both of them their feelings were nothing compared to what they had inflicted on the residents of ADM and our neighbours in Carvoeiro.

We learned there is another meeting on Tuesday (April 14) between the Camara and the govt-owned company (SIRESP) that is erecting the tower. While we understand the Camara has some doubts about the legality of the process followed in this case, we cannot say with confidence that this will be enough to slay the dragon.

From here on, all dealings with the Camara will be in the hands of our lawyers. When I have some info I'll pass it on. If there are overseas residents of ADM who have already indicated their support I need to ask you to send me a passport number asap so the lawyers can add you to their list of opponents. The urgency is because if SIRESP and the government ignore/override the Camara we'll need to move very fast to get an injunction.

Please e-mail them to me: haljones@sympatico.ca

[stephenryan]

So the nightmare continues for residents/owners of houses in ADM and east Carvoeiro. We may need to organise more local support to stop this.
A Major issue seems to be saving "face" for the camara. We need a strategy that helps them back down in dignity and avoid this being the overiding issue that stops common sense prevailing ?!?
Anyone with more intimate knowledge of local politics please contact Hal or me please.
SR

[Lesley Jean]

Good luck in this for all of you, I hope the Camera see sense and stop the tower.

Halj and Stephen well done in all your efforts and Halj please do keep us informed as to what is happening. I am way the other side of Carvoeiro so can't help I don't think as I am not a resident of the area, if a general vote from those living in the area would be of any good then let me know and I will sign to help.