"Protest against the project for Quinta dos Ingleses.
This Saturday in Carcavelos took place, for an hour and a half, a human chain against the construction of a “mega-urbanization”, already approved and planned for Quinta dos Ingleses. The human chain started at 17:00, in three different points of Carcavelos.
Hundreds of people gathered to draw attention to the importance of preserving those 52 hectares of vegetation, threatened by the construction of apartments, hotels and commercial spaces.
The Civic Movement "SOS Quinta dos Ingleses", who organized the protest, says that the area of buildings planned will be equivalent to more than 12 times that of Praça do Comércio, in Lisbon.
The population wants to keep the green area, safeguard biodiversity, protect the beach and the practice of surfing, in addition to continuing to allow free access to everyone.
The company Alves Ribeiro, which currently holds the construction rights, with a license until 2022, wants to proceed with the work planned for Quinta dos Ingleses: 850 apartments, in buildings up to 9 floors, 3 hotels and commercial areas that will reduce to less than 10 hectares the 52 in which there is now a centenary forest.
The Cascais City Council has suspended the ongoing project for six months but says it can no longer halt construction.
At the time of the Public Consultation, in April, more than 9,000 people said no to the planned subdivision.
In Parliament, political parties Bloco de Esquerda, PAN, PCP and PS recently approved the recommendation for that area from Cascais municipality to be protected, with the possibility of creating an Urban Park there. PSD and CDS abstained.
An old struggle, dating back to the 1960s. Residents of that area have since been doing what they can to get attention.
Already lined up on the promenade on the beachside, the participants had the "collaboration" of many drivers, who turned the protest into a horn.
The more than 500 people who were part of the human chain and who, due to the pandemic were unable to hold hands, exchanged slogans for applause, hoping that someone would hear them."
SIC, Sat, Jun 5, 2021)