"The construction of a municipal aerodrome is an illusory adventure, with no purpose or strategy, for municipal development", stated councilor Daniel Azenha.

The socialist mayor does not consider it acceptable to discuss the issue "in a municipality with serious mobility problems, which does not even have an efficient public transport network".

The executive of the Figueira a Primeira movement received a favorable opinion from the National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC) for the construction of an aerodrome with a 1,200-meter runway in the Gandra/Pincho area, north of Figueira da Foz.

A defender of the aerodrome's potential, Santana Lopes believes that this infrastructure will be a factor in making many investments viable, which will create more jobs and keep young people in the area.

"The aerodrome will serve several purposes", stressed the Mayor, speaking of competitive advantages at a business and tourism level for the municipality, with expressions of interest, including from a drone pilot training company, which intends to settle in Figueira da Foz from September.

Stressing that the chosen area, close to the access to Highway 17, does not interfere with the expansion of the Pincho industrial zone, the mayor said that the aerodrome could play an important role in the municipality's economic competitiveness, which "expects a strong flow of investment in Projects of National Interest (PIN) in the area of energy transition".

Santana Lopes also added that the preliminary draft received a favorable opinion from other entities and surrounding municipalities.

The Mayor of Figueira da Foz intends to submit the project to Portugal 2030 to obtain funding, but until then the construction project is still necessary and the investment must be estimated.

The PS showed serious reservations about the project, with councilors Daniel Azenha and Diana Rodrigues raising several questions to understand "if the investment is worth it".

"In a municipality that has a railway line that is clearly incapable of being a real alternative to the use of road transport and that does not allow the transport of materials that our companies produce, it is not acceptable to discuss the construction of an aerodrome", said Daniel Azenha.

The councilor also mentioned that, in Figueira da Foz, "serious problems" remain in the areas of housing, mobility and health, prompting a more heated reaction from Santana Lopes, who accused the socialists of inertia during the 12 years they were in power before his return to the presidency, in 2021.

"I would paint my face black if I had been in power for 12 years and the municipality had all the shortcomings you listed", retorted the Mayor, stressing that "four years is enough for me to do much more".

Despite the discussion, the Council ended up approving, with the abstention of the three PS councilors present, the opening of a procedure with a view to initiating the amendment to the Municipal Master Plan to allow the construction of the future aerodrome.

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