Ota airport – will it happen or not?

Since it was announced by the government, the new airport’s location was seriously criticized…

In the last days, the discussion gained a new proportion. An alternative location was suggested and the minister decided to put on hold (for a period of six months) the Ota project until a new study about Alcochete is prepared.

On a press conference, organized by ADRO (Agency for the Development of the “Oeste” Region), were gathered important community members, namely mayors of the districts, presidents of the tourism regions, and charmains of several companies.

Telmo Faria (ADRO’s president and mayor of Óbidos council town) said that «during many years a technical discussion took place and finally in 1999 a political decision was made.» This decision conducted to investments over 3 million euros in the Oeste’s tourism. Now he can not believe that the decision is being questioned.

On the day before (June, 12th), 10 mayors of the council towns surrounding Ota met the minister wishing to clarify why he backed on the decision previously announced. It seems that after a study on Alcochete’s location turned public, he had no other choice than order a comparison between the two locations.

Three days after, it was revealed the origin of Alcochete’s study: it was requested and paid by a group of investors.

In my opinion, this means that the new airport location will be decided by the big capitals of Portugal, independently of any other important reasons that should be considered, such as environmental issues, accesses, etc.

Money is talking louder and a huge combat is happening between two groups of investors (something like north versus south, but in a smaller scale).

At this point, unfortunately, we can not take Ota as granted.