The Left Bloc (BE) on Tuesday demanded that Corticeira Amorim make the necessary investments in its Silves factory to comply with national and European legislation on air quality and noise.
In a statement, the party argues that “the large clouds of smoke continue and the high levels of continuous noise emitted by the factory”, citing tests confirming that the fumes contain “a significant amount of Suberin and high levels of Fine Particles (PM10). )”.
BE’s public position was expressed after a party delegation, made up of MEP José Gusmão and district leaders João Vasconcelos and Sandra da Costa, met with the “Vizinhos da Fábrica” civic movement, made up of local residents.
The smoke and noise emission of Corticeira Amorim Cork Insulation (ACI), dedicated to the production of cork insulation agglomerates and installed in Silves (Faro), has been causing complaints from neighbors for several years due to the smoke and noise emitted.
BE recalled that in 2020 its parliamentary group questioned the then Minister of the Environment about air quality “with harmful consequences” for the health and quality of life of residents, “with the answers minimizing the problem, referring to smoking as a cigar steam and ensuring there was no cause for concern.”
According to the party, outside the factory “different types of dust can be seen in the surrounding space arranged in mounds that, when blown by the wind, spread around the surroundings, affecting those who live, circulate and work in the area. area”.
The BE also mentioned that the “Factory Neighbors” have developed initiatives in an attempt to resolve the situation together with the Chamber of Silves and the Commission for Coordination and Regional Development of the Algarve (CCDR).
However, “the solution to the problems presented and widely known by those involved seems to be far from being known,” he says.
“There are solutions available, but there is no urgency to implement them. The main problem is the attitude and mentality of Corticeira Amorim, which harms the health and livelihood of the neighboring population,” the statement read.
For MEP José Gusmão, quoted in the note, “there is no justification for the investments already identified and essential to comply with the law not having been made.”
Source: Observadora
