Future of project still unknown
Updated: 17-Feb-2012
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Photo: TURISMO DO ALGARVE
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A date for construction works to start at Praia Grande, Silves, following approval of a major luxury development for the area is yet unknown.
Following our report on the plans to build three five star hotels, five separate accommodation units and a 16-hole golf course in an area overlooking Praia Grande (Algarve Resident, January 27 issue), an Algarve tourism leader has said he welcomes the project because “such large investments are needed in the region”.
Following the project’s approval by the Silves Câmara in 2007 and recent agreement from the courts after a dispute over land status, plans are now due to go ahead as designed but no date has yet been announced for the works to commence.
Silves Câmara told the Algarve Resident: “We are aware that top quality, five star hotels will be built in Praia Grande, however, we don’t know of deadlines or dates for the implementation of the project.”
The Algarve Resident tried to contact Finalgarve S.A., promoters of the project, but was unable to speak to anyone from the company.
However, Tomás Salgado from Risco, the design consultancy company that drafted the project, said: “We finished the design quite some time ago and we don’t know yet when the project will go ahead.”
As an untouched green area of the Algarve that stretches between Albufeira and Armação de Pêra, the Algarve Resident wanted to know the opinion of regional environmental association Almargem. However, following several attempts to obtain a comment from the association, no one was available to speak about this matter.
Some residents have already slammed the “unnecessary” project for Praia Grande, which they say will destroy “this unspoiled area of the Algarve”.
Paul Rees said: “Words almost fail me having read your report on Praia Grande. Are you not outraged, as will be 99.99% of your readers, that this vast sweep of beach, one of the Algarve’s jewels, is to be turned into yet more hotels, as if we need them, and another golf course, as if we need that as well?”
Another reader, Derek Edwards, said: “With so many empty properties in evidence and the formerly lovely beach fronts ruined by poorly thought out plans by developers in the past, Silves Câmara (not in my back yard) give permission in, or adjacent to, a protected area.”
However, the president of the Algarve Hotels and Tourist Resorts Association (AHETA), Elidérico Viegas, told the Algarve Resident that he was in agreement with the project and hoped that they could go forward “as soon as possible”.
He said: “These plans are not new. They have been under appreciation for several years, which is the reason why I am glad to see that they are finally going ahead.
“However, one thing is to have the plans approved and another is to build upon them, especially now when we are facing economic restrictions not only in Portugal but worldwide.”
He believes that what needs to be established is: has the Algarve too many resorts and hotels or, on the other hand, too few tourists to fill them?
“These large projects could take many years to be built. However, such large investments, especially now, are always welcome to the region,” he concluded.
Do you have a view on this story? Please email Editor Inês Lopes at ines.lopes@theresidentgroup.com
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