James Dewhurst is one of many foreigners who came to Portugal with a winning business idea. His plan for an eco-friendly Blo-Kart centre near Sagres had all the makings of runaway success.
“I was planning on the business being worth something in the region of €1.2 to €1.5 million within six years,” he told the Algarve Resident. And to start with, everything went well. Dewhurst presented his ideas to the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina in 2006 and was readily supplied with a licence.
“The engineer who signed the licence even wished me good luck!”
The land that he was using for his wind-powered karts was “five metres from the main road, flat, derelict and windy”. It was all he needed.
He went ahead and invested €45,000, purchasing equipment, a portable office, portaloos and looking forward swift returns.
Blo-karting, which uses a land-based sailing boat-for-one, can be enjoyed by people of all ages and ability.
“Disabled people, particularly those with cerebral palsy, were going to be a huge part of the business,” explained the former baker and restaurateur.
“We were going to be the biggest land sailing centre in Europe! We would have had competitions and tournaments. We would have attracted enthusiasts from all over, because the conditions in Sagres are just perfect.”
But then the problems started. The all too-forthcoming licence suddenly became invalid. The well-wishing ‘Parque Natural’ engineer disappeared off the scene, and things were never the same again.
“Years and years followed where just as the season really got going, they came along and shut us down,” James recalls.
“The first time it was heartbreaking. They were literally hurrying women and children and disabled clients off the site … We were all treated like criminals!”
Truces, restrictions and more closures followed.
“One of the many restrictions that came into force was that we were not allowed to have any portaloos on the site,” he said.
“Can you imagine anything more embarrassing in the 21st century? It got to the point where mothers had to take their children behind bushes – in full view of the passing traffic on the main road!
“I am very, very bitter about the way I was treated,” said James, who has decided to come up with the website dontinvestinthealgarve.com.
“I honestly just want to warn people about opening any kind of business here in the Algarve. I discovered that when things get bad there is really no protection. You are on your own, with a set of ever-changing rules that seem to make no sense at all.”
The business is now run by a former employee of James’ as he completely lost the feeling for it.
The Algarve Resident attempted to get a comment from the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina (overseen by the ICNF). We began at their HQ in Odemira, but were referred to an engineer in Aljezur, who was out and “without any work mobile phone”. We then tried the ICNF central number in Lisbon and were told we needed to talk to a Dr. Filipe Viegas, on another number. Dr Viegas was out, but returned in the afternoon. He told us it was “not ICNF policy to talk to journalists” and we should talk to a press liaison officer back in Lisbon, who would then get back to him for information. The press liaison officer however was also out, and no one knew when she would be returning. A few phone calls later and we found another press liaison officer. “Yes,” he assured us. “I will get you some answers.” Over a week and several email reminders later, and we are still waiting…
By NATASHA DONN news@algarveresident.com
