What could have been “another black day” in the titanic struggle by island communities to save 22 homes (click here) turned into a partial victory this morning for 14 residents.
Loulé’s administrative and fiscal court accepted their “providência cautelares” (legal bids for embargoes) lodged late last week.
Even so, one of the eight properties ‘seized’ today with a view to demolition somewhere further down the line has been recognised by the court as the only residence of its owner, a young woman called Patricia who explained to TVI24 that she simply didn’t have the money for a new bid for court protection.
A statement released by the Ministry of the Environment also revealed that new court bids could have impeded the seizure of any properties at all – but in the end, eight properties were daubed with the blue lettering that signifies they are now the property of Sociedade Polis Litoral Ria Formosa, the government agency that has been powering the demolition agenda for the last few years (click here).
Campaigning group SOS Ria Formosa has chosen its words carefully this time in a statement, saying simply that a powerful contingent of police turned up to seize the humble homes, and the court in the meantime accepted new bids to save them.
“The appeal remains that a consensus can be reached and a just solution will follow”, said the group, concluding with the customary sign-off in capital letters: “THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES”.
The eight properties include four within the community of Farol and four on neighbouring Hangares.
natasha.donn@algarveresident.com
