Amovate Meets Cãmara Over the Future of Vale da Telha
The President of the Cãmara requested a meeting with the Amovate Committee on Thursday February 3rd at the Old Schoolhouse to outline plans for the future direction of Vale da Telha and the area ahead of Friday’s public meeting down in Aljezur.
The President, José Manuel Velhinha Amarelinho, was accompanied by the Civil Commander for Protection Mario Costa, José Marreiros, President of the Junta, José Manuel Lucas Conçalves, Cãmara Vice President and Communications and Protocol Director Antonio José Monteiro de Carvalhao.
The President explained that the strategic vision established for urban regeneration over a 550-hectare area of Vale da Telha by Government-owned Parque Expo is called “Living in The Park.”
Parque Expo was set up in the 90s prior to Expo 98, the Lisbon World Exposition or World’s Fair, and was responsible for the fantastic conversion of derelict docklands into what is now a thriving residential, cultural and commercial area along the Lisbon waterfront.
THE BACKGROUND:
In 2009 the Prime Minister and the Minister for the Environment visited the area to outline proposals for Vale da Telha and adjoining districts within the National Park. So far an overall plan has not yet been drawn up. But two areas were identified, one where residential development will be allowed to continue, one where it will be forbidden.
Since then, the Cãmara has made its own proposals but the National Park Authority has made its objections and it appears that the Government has come down on the side of the Park Authority. But nothing is yet cast in stone and no decisions will be taken, or concrete proposals put forward until feasibility studies begun on January 1 have been completed, which could take 20 months.
These studies are being conducted by Parque Expo, who the Camara anticipate will use Amovate as the vehicle for consultations with residents which they anticipate will start this year. It is also thought that Parque Expo are likely to base an office in the area—possibly located here on Vale da Telha, if not in Aljezur itself.
Expo officials also spent two weeks checking the registrations of plots and houses in Vale da Telha….and so far have identified in excess of 5,000 registrations!
They have also identified four areas to deal with in separation for their studies, recognising that they all have different characteristics and requirements and need to be examined individually in an ecological manner.
Everything will be looked at with three overwhelming factors in mind:
- What do Parque Expo want;
- What does the Cãmara want;
- What does the National Park want.
“Parque Expo are Government and it is important we work with them,” the President added. “The economy of Vale da Telha is very important for the economy of the Municipality. Vale da Telha is at the heart of the economy of the Cãmara.”
He stressed that a priority will be to safeguard the interests of property owners on Vale da Telha along with quality of life and quality of tourism.
But he admitted money will be a factor, and added: “I don’t know how long it will take—I will not lie to you. But it will give Vale da Telha something it has not had for 30 years.”
The four areas to be the subject of detailed plans have been labelled PP1, PP2, PP3 and PP4 and can be seen here.
As far as we could ascertain:
PP1 loosely covers Sectors A, B and C.
PP2 loosely covers Sectors D.H, G and F.
PP3 loosely covers Sectors I, J, L and M.
PP4 loosely covers Sectors E, AL, BL, CL and DL.
The President explained that large swathes of land in PP4 are owned by a private individual, Estacio dos Santos. He has outlined his vision for that area, which includes eco-friendly, low-rise developments including spas, hotels, rooms to let for holidays, not necessarily permanent homes.
The President also envisiges some water sports facilities on the lake, although if that were to happen residents should be assured that Amovate would fight to ensure there was no noise pollution in that area and that the watersports involved non-motorised craft, like canoes, kayaks and windsurfing.
These planned feasibility studies are the results of research and strategic orientation promoted by the Municipality and made by Parque Expo under the title Strategic Vision for Vale da Telha in collaboration with the Nature Conservation and Biodiversity Institute and approved unanimously in a Municipal meeting in June 2009.
The Cãmara’s view is that the strategic vision established for the regeneration of Vale da Telha—“Living in the Park”—is based on three guiding principles, due to be outlined in the Detail Plans.
1: To view the National Park as a heritage and maintain its sustainability whilst appreciating its value as an opportunity for local development.
2: To have control by having a model compatible with the maintenance of environmental values.
3: To transform Vale da Telha into a recognisable brand with its own values and identity, with further development structured in its organisation by the detailed plans to be approved.
Parque Expo will provide a team of differing disciplines covering the technical areas of territorial planning and management, architecture and urbanisation, as well as human and socioeconomic geography and legal agencies.
Their goal is to promote the quality of urban life by carrying out urban rehabilitations and requalification operations, valuing environmental, socio-cultural and economic aspects within a perspective of integration and sustainable development in permanent collaboration with the Aljezur City Hall and the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Institute.
The Cãmara President said it is of paramount importance that the natural beauty of the Park be maintained, pointing out: “You chose to live here because of that, the good vibrations of the area, the trees, the birds, the wildlife, the landscape. We want to protect that without forgetting the right of people to construct, and then co-exist with nature, in Vale da Telha.”
He also revealed that more and more local Portuguese people living in Aljezur, especially young couples, are now moving up to Vale da Telha.
The explanatory document they handed to us explained that Vale da Telha is now moving towards the moment where detailed plans are to be drawn up.
The proposals, they say, will have to clearly and objectively answer to the concept of urban renewal through its principles and guidelines, protecting and enhancing the natural heritage and landscape of the park, thus regenerating and rehabilitating the area, safeguarding its rights and promoting Vale da Telha as a different and competitive area.
The President explained that in the past it was possible to build a house covering the area of one-third of the plot. So if you owned a 3,000 sqm plot you could build a house of 1,000 sqm.
At present the maximum build size is 250sqm but the new plan may reduce this size still further.
He also admitted it might be necessary to change the location of a plot. If you own a plot in an area restricted for development, for example, it is possible planning permission will not be given.
In that case you would be offered as plot of comparable size in a different part of Vale da Telha, or financial compensation.
Even if planning permission is granted it is possible that the size of your plot might be slightly reduced to keep adjoining areas green, forming natural breaks in the developed areas.
The President says that behind all this are 30-plus years of conflicts, misunderstandings and inefficiency which made Vale da Telha a target area for urban conversion.
He admitted that there had been incidents in the past—but no longer!—where a single plot had been sold to 3 or 4 different people by unscrupulous individuals on the same day, adding: “A lot of people have made fortunes out of Vale da Telha.”
Once everything has been agreed they will be able to expedite the plans to place all services below ground, making it in keeping with the requirements of the National Park. For instance above-ground electricity cables are prohibited and we interpret this as also to mean the potential provision of cable TV and telephone facilities at some point in the future.
As you all know the work on the new drainage system has begun in the Vale da Telha area and the areas of Arrifana, Vales, Espartal and Paisagem Oceano will be connected to this system in the near future.
When asked about charges for this service the President said there will be an increase to the water charge but only for the properties benefitting from this service.
Unfortunately, connection to other areas is not possible at this moment, as the underground drainage system has yet to be laid under the roads.