By DAISY SAMPSON daisy.sampson@theresidentgroup.com
A project to erect three wind turbines in the areas of Água de Tábuas and Malhada do Judeu near Tavira has been rejected by the Ministry of the Environment.
For over a year, residents in the area have been fighting to stop the project (see the Algarve Resident edition August 7, 2009) and on April 21 the residents were rewarded for their efforts to stop the wind turbines when they were informed that the project had been shelved.
A document from the Ministry of the Environment stated that the project would have “significant negative impacts on the ecological systems and socioeconomic structure of the area” and because of this, it was rejected.
One of the proposed wind turbines was to be built 300 metres from the home of resident Keith Boak and since he found out about the plans, he has been actively fighting to stop the development with the support of PROBAAL, a non-governmental organisation formed to protect the environment in the Tavira area.
“A big black cloud has been lifted which has blighted our lives and cost us dearly in terms of time and money during the last 15 months,” he said on hearing about the rejection of the project.
“Like most people, we support renewable energy projects. But if someone places a 100 metre high wind turbine with 40 metre long blades only 300 metres from your house, it means you can never sell your house and it could affect your health,” he added.
The PROBAAL objections to the project were referred to by the Ministry of the Environment in a resume of the public consultation which was also attended by a representative from ANA Aeroportos and a spokesman from ANA stated that the project could interfere with the navigational systems of planes coming in and out of Faro airport.
A spokesman for Tavira Câmara highlighted the concerns of the Câmara regarding the protection of water sources in the area at the public consultation while environmental groups including SPEA, Associação Almargem and PROBAAL are also cited as opposing the project.
Amanda McGregor from the PROBAAL group said: ‘”This is exactly the kind of common sense decision that PROBAAL welcomes and we are glad that we could support our members in their quest for this outcome.
She added: “We will now be keeping up the pressure regarding the construction of the quarry near Cerro de Leiria.”
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