The PS Council in the Lisbon Chamber will present a proposal to force the municipality, led by Social Democrat Carlos Moedas, to oppose a possible increase in the number of planes per hour planned at Humberto Delgado Airport.
“Humberto Delgado Airport is the main source of noise in Lisbon and one of the main sources of pollution in the city. The airport affects the sleep of 388 thousand inhabitants, with areas such as Alvalade, Olivais and even Campo de Ourique. In the early morning, aircraft noise can register 45 decibels,” said a note from PS councilors to the municipality.
In the note, PS advisers in Lisbon welcome the decision to proceed with the construction of the new international airport and to do so at the Alcochete shooting range, “confirming the result of the technical study of the Independent Commission appointed by the previous government.” .
“The consensus reached since the announcement of such a structural solution for the economy of Lisbon and the country is the result of the depth of this work and everything that preceded it,” they say, highlighting the importance for the city that the selected proposal “refuses the decision to build a new airport as supporting or additional infrastructure for Portela.”
Council members also highlight the fact that the new airport will lead to the closure of the current one, which is “an important step that the Socialist Party has long defended”, remembering that in 2018, using legal prerogative, the Lisbon City Council “opposed the extension of night hours, desired by the ANA, and in 2020, again at the initiative of the PS, the municipality adopted a joint position against increasing the number of night flights.”
“PS board members therefore received the news with extreme concern that the government is preparing to authorize an increase in the number of aircraft per hour from 38 to 45, an increase of almost 20% in the number of flights in a city where residents are already experiencing first-hand the effects of noise and pollution. “, they say.
According to Socialist councilors, “the absence of a word from the Mayor of Lisbon about this intention, which harms the residents of Lisbon and jeopardizes the quality and duration of their lives, is incomprehensible and unacceptable.”
Thus, PS Lisboa calls on Carlos Moedas to “make clear once and for all which side he is on”, asking whether he “accepts the interests of the ANA, which has long wanted to use Humberto Delgado as the “goose that lays the golden eggs”. ‘, which supports all its activities and expansion, as well as the quality of life of the residents of Lisbon.”
“The current noise level, as several experts have already noted, threatens the sleep and even the mental health of hundreds of thousands of Lisbon residents. Carlos Moedas will have to decide whether to protect the interests of Lisbon residents who suffer from very high noise levels. and air pollution is beyond what is acceptable and unparalleled in any major city, or if you simply want to stand alongside the government without a voice of your own,” they emphasize.
According to the report, PS council members will bring the issue to the next council meeting, presenting a proposal “in which local government opposition to an almost 20% increase in aircraft usage is evident.”
On Tuesday, the government led by Social Democrat Luis Montenegro approved the development of a phased investment plan that will increase the capacity of Humberto Delgado airport to 45 flights per hour, including the investments foreseen in a December Council of Ministers resolution. approved by the previous government.
In this resolution, the government led by socialist António Costa gave ANA 120 days to present projects to fulfill specific commitments for the development of Lisbon Airport, with the aim of easing restrictions on operation and passenger comfort, the works of which must be completed before 2027.
We are talking about “construction of rapid runway exits – Runway 3 (current 2) – Implementation of Phase 2 of the H2 Rapid Exit”, which, according to the concession agreement signed in 2012, was supposed to be carried out between 2018 and 2021, but has now been established the new completion date is 2026.
At issue is also a commitment to build “multiple entrances to Runway 21 (currently 20)”, which was originally due to be completed between 2018 and 2021, but a new completion date was set between 2025 and 2027, and also “expropriation of warehouses”. in the multiple entry area of Runway 21 (currently 20)”, which was also due to be built between 2018 and 2021 and now has a new completion date of between 2024 and 2025.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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