Decision on Three Funchal Urban Rehabilitation Plans Postponed for 12 Months
The Funchal Municipal Council has unanimously approved a 12-month extension for the public discussion period concerning three detailed urban rehabilitation plans for the central areas of Carmo, Encarnação, and Ornelas. The decision, made during the weekly executive meeting this Friday, effectively transfers the final approval of these key planning instruments to the next municipal administration, which will be determined by the local elections scheduled for October 12.
The current executive, a coalition of the PSD and CDS-PP parties, presented the postponement as a measure to enhance public participation. Deputy Mayor Bruno Pereira explained the rationale, stating, "These situations advocate the Council's interest in giving more time so that the population of Funchal and the property owners in these areas can exercise their rights under the law." He stressed the importance of achieving a consensus that balances private rights with the public interest in the development of these strategic city-center zones.
The public consultation period for the three detailed plans was set to expire this year. The extension ensures that the incoming political leadership will have the authority to shape and finalize the urbanistic vision for these areas. "It is very important in the elaboration of these planning instruments that there is a broad participation of the people," Pereira added, highlighting the need for a collaborative approach to city planning.
However, the move was met with criticism from the opposition. The Confiança coalition, led by the Socialist Party (PS), interpreted the delay as a failure of the current administration. Socialist councilor Miguel Silva Gouveia contended that the postponement confirms the opposition's long-held view on the executive's performance. "It confirms what we have said throughout this mandate, that at the level of strategic planning and territorial development, namely in the area of urban rehabilitation, this executive was an authentic desert, not only of ideas, but above all of work," he declared.
The debate underscores the political divisions over the pace and direction of urban development in Funchal. The detailed plans are crucial legal documents that will guide future construction, renovation, and land use in the Carmo, Encarnação, and Ornelas neighborhoods, areas with significant potential for economic and residential growth. The decision to delay them places their fate directly in the hands of the electorate and the political forces that will emerge victorious in October.
The municipal executive meeting, composed of six councilors from the ruling coalition and five from the opposition, also saw unanimous approval for other local initiatives. These included a €22,000 allocation for school supplies and the adoption of a Local Strategy for Children's Rights, aimed at renewing Funchal's 'Child-Friendly City' status from UNICEF Portugal. Despite the consensus on these items, the postponement of the urban rehabilitation plans remained the most contentious and politically significant outcome of the session.
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