Last month in Lagos, a construction company, building in front of the fort on the Avenida, destroyed a protected chimney on which the herons were nesting. It really was soul destroying. To my dismay, recently we spotted a new “Aviso” (warning) for building permission on the wall of a site situated in front of the old Hotel Cristovão, on the left side of the bridge just before Pingo Doce. They obviously are intent on developing this site, on which stand two chimneys with herons’ nests that have been there for centuries. They cannot be allowed to destroy these chimneys too, a landmark of Lagos.
I am not a Portuguese speaker and, therefore, loath to go to the Câmara and ask what the plans are. I was wondering if The Resident would care to investigate this and find out what is going on. It would be heart breaking if these wonderful birds, which come and nest there every year, were disenfranchised. As far as I am aware, the chimneys and the birds are protected, but that did not stop them from destroying the chimney on the Avenida. This cannot be allowed to happen again!
Val Window
Lagos resident for 18 years
Editor: The Resident is currently in contact with Lagos Câmara about this matter and will bring you the results of our findings next week.
