The mayor of Lagoa, Luís Encarnação told Lusa News Agency that TCAS did not accept the assumptions that had led the Loulé TAF to accept (last May) a request from two environmental associations asking for the suspension of the permit, issued by the municipality, for the company Edifícios Atlântico to promote an urbanisation with eleven lots.

The TAF decision, taken in May 2021, suspended the permit until the entity with competences in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) - the Algarve Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR)- analyzed a study carried out by Almargem defending the environmental and ecological value of Alagoas Brancas.

The court of appeal has now taken a different position, supporting the Lagoa Chamber's appeal and considering that “simple fears of possible and hypothetical environmental damage resulting from the execution of the project” don't justify the decision.

The municipality considered it necessary to “clarify all the points”, said Luís Encarnação, stressing that the municipality remains “completely available to comply with the law”.

The associations reacted to the decision of the Central Administrative Court of the South in a statement in which they were critical of the arguments of the TCAS, announcing that they will “think of all options” in order to preserve the area.

“This group, which since 2017 has been fighting for the defence of Alagoas Brancas, is not happy with this decision, which we consider unfair. But we could be convinced. Indeed, court decisions are also meant to convince their recipients and the community that the decision they take is the most correct. However, after analysing the decision, we were not convinced”, they stated.