Mértola / Serpa: Air Force back to talk about the project to a new shooting range.
oped 12 years on “first steps to change the Alcochete shooting range for Vale in the Well, place also known as “factories”, in Mértola and Serpa municipality, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, He returned to the issue.
It was the end of a parliamentary hearing, held on 16 January, and intended to provide clarification on the implications of the construction of a civil airport at the Montijo military base and in statements to Lusa, o general Manuel Rolo, explained that “away to have the relocation plans, the Alcochete shooting range is a variable that can not get out of the equation ", stressing that it is essential for the operation of the F-16 aircraft.
Admitting to maintain the shooting range "in the early years" of operation of the complementary airport in Montijo, Manuel Roll said that "one has to do is ensure that whenever the FAP have to use the field, air traffic is redirected ".
Yet, “When movements increase, the field will have to be relocated", a deferred project has an estimated cost of about 242 million, said, remembering that there is a study that shows a possible location for the shooting range [Alentejo] when the question is put.
The highest charge will be carried out with the transfer of the Alcochete shooting range to the area of ​​Mértola / Serpa, between 2024 and 2036: the cost will exceed 242 million, according to the impact study of civil infrastructure deployment at Air Base 6, no Montijo, presented to Members of the National Defense Commission by then-Defense Minister, Azeredo Lopes, in 8 June 2017.
Contatato by Lidador News (LN), President of the Chamber Mértola, Jorge Rosa, reported that “there was no contact with the local authority, nor was admitted in the services any document on the subject”, remembering that all that is known “was a visit made for over a decade without any development”, finished.
It is recalled that on 22 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 to be a tourism project planned for the area.
At the time source of the Portuguese Air Force (FAP) revealed that the area of ​​Mértola, “the characteristics of the terrain and low population density”, It could be a “Alternatively studying”.
At the time the then president of the Mértola municipality and the vice president of Serpa, Socialist Jorge Pulido Valente and José communist Sesinando, ensured that “a technician was this week in the technical departments of both municipalities, to evaluate land in the municipalities”.
In the case of Mértola, similar to Serpa, “the technician asked to consult the Municipal Master Plan, to identify and assess land in the county to a study for the eventual installation of a shooting range”, said Jorge Pulido Valente.
“We do not accept the installation of a shooting range in the county, planned for the Sierra de Serpa / Mértola”, said Jorge Pulido Valente.
Teixeira Correia
(journalist)
