PETITION FOR THE PROTECTION OF PRAIA DE PORTO DE MOS AND ITS ADJACENT AREAS

Fourty years ago a concession was granted to Mr Antonio Protazios family for the construction, development and management of a restaurant and beach support infrstacture in the Praia de Porto de Mos, in Lagos. Over the years this family, as it was deemed in terms of the concession, has ensured the well-being of all beach users throughout the year, by providing an attentive and friendly service, highly focused on optimising quality of service and ensuring the safety of the beach users. As a result, it cannot be denied that the O Antonio Restaurant and Beach Support is today an internationally well known and respected establishment in Porto de Mos and showcases the best that Portugal has to offer to its visitors and residents alike. In fact it is recognised as an international landmark promoting not only the best of Lagos, but also of Portugal.

In view of the fact that this long-established landmark is now being threatned with closure and demolition by the local municipality, we view such actions, as purely an effort by developers to pave the way for the development of a five-star hotel complex in an area, adjacent to his establishment and concessionary area, that will consist of a building with more than 9 floors, being six or seven above ground and two or three underground. It is of great concern to us, that not only the construction of the hotel, but also its daily operations will in fact place tremendous stress on the fragile eco-system of the area. In addition, should this project be allowed to proceed, it will result in it being the tallest development in the area. It will also severely affect and/or restrict the acess to the beach area to the general public. Thus turning a public area into a private and highly exclusive beach and surroundings when it should be access by all and available to all at all times with no restrictions except those placed by nature itself.

In their efforts to meet their personal and private objectives, the developers have engaged in a long and protracted legal action against Mr. Protazio. They have used every argument possible and imaginable, so as to justify their legal process against a family run small business, by repeatedly questioning the legitimacy of the concession and all the licences awarded to him and his family so many years ago. Those licences have since the beginning been renewed on a regular basis. We allege that all they are doing is to lay unlawful lay claim to, not only the concession area, but also the operational licences linked with it. Furthermore, we are of the opinion that the speed in which the local municipality has acted in ordering the closure and demolition of this family owned operation, has been as a direct result of pressure by the developers on the local municipality. The municipality is not legally entitled to act as a court of law and decide on outcomes before a court of law does so, but they have done so. In addition, it must be brought to your attention that there is currently still a legal process running and Mr. Protazio and his family have not exhausted all the legal recourses available to them.

We are of the strong opinion that the cancellation and withdrawal of the current concession, is against the best interests of the general public, being all the Porto de Mos users, past and future; that comprises not only local residents, but also thousands of visitors to our town. In addition, we are of the opinion that the area claimed by the hotel developers for construction, is an area that is of public interest, has been freely used by the general public for more than 50 years, and that its ownership and title should rightfully revert back to the public domain through rezoning and expropriation. One fact that we cannot ignore is; that should the construction of the proposed hotel development proceed, the practical implication would result in extensively restricting the access to the beach to the general public, both during the construction phase and afterwards, especially if one takes into account their proposed areas. But more serious, is the fact that the construction will itself negatively impact on an already fragile eco-system, including having a negative impact on the cliffs surrounding the proposed area of the construction site, thus placing additional pressure on an already stressed Algarvean coastline.

As a result of the gravity of the current situation, we are of the opinion that the Assembleia da Republica Portuguesa is a competent body to voice and state its position on this matter and as a result, I do hereby duly and willingly support this application and petition.