Chega-Madeira expresses its solidarity with the population of Campanário and contests the closure of Vereda do Calhau da Lapa, carried out in March 2023, by the Ribeira Brava Municipal Council.
According to the party, this decision has generated a wave of protests among the inhabitants of that parish, as it is the only pedestrian access route to Calhau da Lapa, and is also an essential route for the local community, Madeirans in general and visitors.
CHEGA also points to “possible suspicions of economic interests behind the closure decision” and leaves the matter to the consideration and attention of the competent entities.
“This closure not only isolates the community and harms tourism, but also appears to be driven by economic interests that aim to privatize and develop the area for the benefit of a few,” said Miguel Castro, reinforcing the need to consider the voices of residents who, according to him, were ignored in the decision-making process.
Through a statement, the party from Extremadura explains that the Campanário community has insisted that the path is a natural and cultural heritage, and of vital function, and that security measures could be implemented without the need to completely block access.
“The inhabitants of Campanário rightly demand to be consulted and included in decisions that directly affect their lives and traditions. We cannot accept that economic development is carried out at the expense of the exclusion and detriment of our population”, stresses Miguel Castro.
In addition to demanding transparency, the community is calling for alternatives to be explored to ensure the safety of users of the trail. The CHEGA parliamentary leader suggested that “instead of simply closing the trail, authorities should investigate engineering solutions that would stabilise the area and maintain public access.”