The City Council of Mértola issued a statement where “informs and regrets” that, today, continues without receiving any further clarification or additional information from the Government of the Republic relatively “to the eventual installation of a new field of instruction and military training in the county”.
The municipality led by Mário Tomé recalls that as it was made public in the clarification sent in 19 Feb., This municipality “stressed several steps with various government entities”, having received only one response from the office of the Minister of National Defense, dated 18 Feb., in which it is indicated that “there is no, Until now, any decision made regarding the location of this infrastructure ”and that, at a later stage, the municipalities covered would be contacted.
“Almost five months, This auscultation to the Mértola Authority did not happen ”, reaffirming the Municipality “the total absence of involvement and ignorance about any decision process and reiterates its concern with social impacts, environmental and economic that such a project can represent for the territory ”.
The municipality regrets the silence of the competent entities and considers it unacceptable to continue to speak of a possible displacement of the Alcochete Shot field to the interior of the Alentejo without the minimum of institutional dialogue with the potentially affected authorities and populations.
The Municipality of Mértola maintains its position and remains “frontally against any scenario that represents the transfer of military activities with high impact to an area of recognized environmental and cultural value” ".
“We reaffirm that any decision on the territory must be preceded by a broad public debate, involving the municipalities, civil society, local communities and environmental and scientific entities ”, reiterates the municipality. Only then can it be guaranteed that the principles of sustainability, territorial cohesion and balanced development are respected.
Mértola City Council adds that “it will remain attentive, available for dialogue and demanding in defending the interests of the county and its population ”.
The first steps to relocate the Shooting Range
Remember that the “first steps” to change the infrastructure to Vale no Poço, place also known as “Factories”, in the municipalities of Mértola and Serpa, were given in 22 November 2007, subject that was discussed again twelve years later, by the then Chief of Staff of the Air Force (CEMFA), General Manuel Roll, at the end of a parliamentary hearing, realizada a 16 January 2019, stressing that “it is fundamental for the operability of F-16 aircraft”.
Justifying that “it is a postponed project that has an estimated cost of around 242 million euros ", said, remembering that there is a study that shows a possible location for the shooting range [Alentejo] when the question is put. Manuel Rolo justified that the highest charge would be made with the transfer of the Alcochete Shooting Field to the Mértola/Serpa area, between 2024 and 2036: the cost will exceed 242 million.
In December 2023, interviewed by Diário de Notícias (DN) about what had been planned and prepared in relation to the relocation of that shooting range, the office of the now Air Force Chief of Staff, General Cartaxo Alves, only replied that “regardless of the solution that is taken to be taken, the Air Force will always be, as in other circumstances, part of the same”.
In November 2007, Mayors of Mértola and Serpa demonstrated against the possible installation of a shooting range in the common saw the two municipalities to replace the Alcochete, claiming that a tourism project is planned for the area. Portuguese Air Force Source (FAP) then revealed that the Mértola area, “due to the characteristics of the terrain and low demographic density”, could be an “alternative to studying”.
Teixeira Correia
(journalist)
