By: ELOISE WALTON
AFTER CRITICISM about delays in the Polis programme developments in Silves, which began in 2003, Dra Maria Teresa de Jesus, executive director of the Programa Polis, explained the project to The Resident.
Beginning with the project at Silves Castle, Dra Teresa de Jesus said: “Although the castle looks very untidy, the project underway is not modern and ugly like visitors and residents may think (read last week’s edition of The Resident)”, adding that the architect designed the structures and gardens inside to re-create features from Arabic times.
Dra Teresa de Jesus produced a large plan showing the completed project inside the castle, which will have a tea house that stands over a shallow lake of water that will be integrated into a historical garden. “The garden will have tiled footpaths with water channels linked to the shallow lake as was traditional in Arabic times,” she said, adding that the plants have been chosen to reflect all types of plants that existed in Silves when the castle was in use.
Planting will be one of the last tasks to complete and will include a variety of flowers, shrubs, trees and aromatic herbs.
When asked about the delays in completion, Dra Teresa de Jesus explained: “We do not know what is under the surface inside the castle, making it impossible to guess what archaeological interventions need to be carried out before work begins.”
Riverside
Other projects in Silves include the riverside development along the River Arade. Work there has just resumed after months of inactivity. When asked about this, Dra Teresa de Jesus said: “There was a problem with the building contractors but this has now been resolved. We must look to the future; it is pointless to dwell on the past.”
An inauguration ceremony is being planned for late September for the riverside development project, which, when fully completed, will have a two kilometre cycle path, foot paths, gardens, a picnic area, a children’s play area, a skatepark, exercise equipment available for the elderly, an exhibitions pavilion and an outdoor amphitheatre.
“One of the most frustrating aspects of the Polis developments in Silves is that when part of a project is finished, vandals destroy it, breaking public furniture and spraying graffiti on clean walls,” she said. Once redevelopment projects have been completed, the responsibility for the maintenance of the new gardens and facilities will be handed over to Silves Câmara.
On the subject of transport and parking pressures in the historical town centre, Dra Teresa de Jesus explained that a lot of work has been carried out to create large pedestrian paths, with metal bollards built along the roadside to prevent cars driving on the footpaths. “Unfortunately, some people are selfish and park where they should not. People need to change their mentality and habits, using the new amenities built,” she said.
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