The debate was raised by the Green Party (PEV) and follows the announcement of the decision to build a new airport infrastructure at the Alcochete Shooting Range, as explained by the municipal group in a statement.
At the opening of the session, PEV municipal deputy Cláudia Madeira explained that this is intended to be “the beginning of a broad public discussion process”, ensuring, from now on, “that the land of Humberto Delgado Airport will remain in the public sphere”.
“It is possible and desirable to start paving the way and, therefore, it makes sense for the Municipal Assembly to take the first of many steps in what is expected to be the largest public participation process ever undertaken in Lisbon”, she stated.
In the immediate term, the PEV advocated that the Lisbon City Council, chaired by Carlos Moedas (PSD), implement “measures to mitigate the effects” of the airport’s operation, namely the end of night flights.
In the future, the PEV intends to implement a plan for the decontamination and environmental rehabilitation of the land, with the construction of “a second green lung” (in addition to Monsanto) and affordable housing, as well as public facilities, in the city of Lisbon.
The idea was shared by the municipal deputy for People–Animals–Nature (PAN) António Morgado, who defended the need for those lands to “be returned to the city” and for infrastructures to be built there that “directly serve the citizens”.
In the same vein, the Livre MP Patrícia Robalo stressed that “the de-allocation of land creates a unique opportunity” and that it cannot be “an opportunity for speculators and opportunists”. The future use of the current land at Humberto Delgado Airport to respond to the housing crisis was also defended by the Bloco MP Joana Teixeira, stressing that “it will be an opportunity to balance the scales in Lisbon”, rejecting the construction of “more hotels”.
The PCP, through MP Fernando Correia, defended that Humberto Delgado Airport “should not operate for one more day”, after the completion of the future Alcochete Airport, urging that the construction of this airport infrastructure begin “as soon as possible”. In the opposite direction, the Chega MP Bruno Mascarenhas considered the discussion about the future of the land at Humberto Delgado Airport to be “uncalled for” since there is still no deadline for the launch and execution of the work.
Bruno Mascarenhas argued that, even after the construction of the future airport infrastructure at the Alcochete Shooting Range, Humberto Delgado Airport should be maintained, since it “is surrounded by all mobility infrastructures”.
A similar position was expressed by PSD municipal deputy Carlos Reis, who stressed that “the fate of those lands will not be decided by any forum, but rather by legal instruments”, recalling that this “is an ongoing debate”.
The socialist deputy Manuel Laje stressed that this debate “is a first step” and that “all political forces want to ensure that those lands have “green spaces and more housing”.
One of the final interventions in this debate was made by the councillor for Housing and Municipal Works at Lisbon City Council, Filipa Roseta, who assured that the current executive intends for those lands to be converted into a “large green lung” and into more “humane and sustainable” spaces.
“I leave here a challenge to the universities. I hope they start thinking about these lands. They [the universities] are the most creative and richest source. I hope they think about it”, she pointed out.
No increase in flights
The mayor also assured that the government agrees with the non-increase in flights until 2034 and with the ban on night flights.
In mid-May, the Government approved the construction of the new airport in the Lisbon region at the Alcochete Shooting Range, following the recommendation of the Independent Technical Commission (CTI).
When choosing the location of the new airport, the Government proposed expanding Humberto Delgado, increasing the current 38 movements per hour to 45 movements.
The Air Force Shooting Range, also known as the Alcochete Shooting Range (due to its proximity to this urban centre), is mostly located in the parish of Samora Correia, in the municipality of Benavente (district of Santarém), with a small part also in the parish of Canha, in the municipality of Montijo (district of Setúbal).