By DAISY SAMPSON AND INÊS LOPES news@algarveresident.com
A communications mast which was erected on June 9 in an environmentally protected area in Vale do Covo, Carvoeiro, without the prior knowledge of local residents has been met with opposition from property owners over its legality.
A resident, who refused to be named for fear of retribution from Lagoa Câmara, told the Algarve Resident: “When I went to work in the morning, everything was as usual but, at 4.30pm, I received a call from a distressed resident who suggested I take a look at what was being constructed in the valley on the coastal road near the tennis courts at the Hotel Tivoli.”
The resident added: “I drove to the location and there, standing in all its manic glory, was a 30 metre high communications tower.
“This is an abuse of power by the Câmara and it is causing a great deal of stress to the local residents. None of us knew about the mast being put up and it is a disgrace that Lagoa Câmara has acted in such a devious way.”
Carvoeiro resident Les Lloyd, who lives 100 metres away from the newly erected mast, said: “We had no notice about the mast. On June 8, we saw workmen digging a hole and then the next day the mast had been put up right in front of our balcony.
“I went to Lagoa Câmara on June 14 to speak to the President and he told me that he knew nothing about it but would be looking into it and get back to me when he knew more.”
At the time the Algarve Resident went to press on Wednesday, Les Lloyd had still not been contacted by the Câmara.
He added: “To be honest, it is not something that really worries me but we want it taken down because it has been built illegally in a protected area (Reserva Ecológica Nacional – REN) and the Câmara should not be allowed to get away with this. It is also not exactly a selling point for our property either.”
Leaflets in opposition to the mast have been distributed in the area and residents are being asked to sign an online petition which will then be presented to the Câmara with the ultimate aim being to remove the mast from its current location.
The Algarve Resident contacted Lagoa Câmara for comment about the mast but at the time of going to press on Wednesday, officials had failed to respond.
If you would like to sign the petition against the mast, please visit www.ecoalert.tk (available in English).
Luz Mast
Meanwhile, a council order to remove a mobile phone mast in a residential area in Praia da Luz, Lagos, has not yet been carried out by the company responsible for the installation.
Following the announcement in May that residents from Vila Serena had won the right to have the mast, erected close to their homes, removed, this week the Algarve Resident was contact by property owner Luís Cardoso who said that the mast “is still there despite a letter from Lagos Câmara on May 12 declaring that the company had been ordered to remove the structure”.
Residents were expecting the mast to be removed within days of the official notification.
However, despite several calls to the Câmara, “nothing has been done” he said.
“This is a disgrace. The telecommunications company has chosen to completely ignore council orders,” said Luís Cardoso.
“We are now seriously considering taking this matter to court.”
The mast was first erected in the residential area in January and since then the residents had been in talks with the Câmara to have it removed.
Luís Cardoso said: “The mast was illegal and the law had to be obeyed.”
A spokesman for Lagos Câmara told the Algarve Resident on Wednesday: “The Câmara has notified the company responsible for the installation of the mast and the telecommunications company in question for a new location for the structure to be found. Until now, our request has not been met.
“Lagos Câmara will continue with procedures until our order is acted upon.”
Do you have a view on this story? Please email Editor Inês Lopes at ines.lopes@theresidentgroup.com
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