“It’s another step in this strategy since it’s important to return the land to benefitting the population, and to value the memory and identity of these places,” the mayor begins. “It’s not just the historic centre that needs to be preserved, but the whole municipality. And these new undertakings are the clear test for our government’s strategy to promote the quality of life of its subjects.”

In this sense, the council signed into effect the decrees that mark the beginning of three undertakings to requalify public space, valuing €1.3 million. These are the requalification of the Covas centre, on João Villaret Street, another project in Mercês, and the 2nd phase of the Ribeira da Lage requalification.

In a joint investment between the council and the Sintra Municipalised Services, involving an investment of around 900 thousand euros, the Covas requalification undertaking inserts itself into the Urban Rehabilitation Area (ARU) of Rio de Mouro Velho. According to the council, the project looks to revitalise the location’s identity based on reinforcing singular characteristics of a small salon village. It also aims for “the improvement of comfort and security of the population in using the public space,” Sintra municipality explains. The requalification of the public space in Covas “will prioritise pedestrian circulation and other forms of light transport, creating conditions for the street to again be a point of meeting and community socialisation.”

Another project is greenlit for Rua João Villaret, in the MemMartins/Rio de Mouro Rehabilitation Area, in a joint investment from the council and Serviços Municipalizados de Sintra of a magnitude of 340 thousand euros. According to the council, the project consists of the building of 40 spaces in the car park as well as landscaping work on the street and the making of a link with the surrounding areas.

The Ribeira da Lage environmental and landscape requalification, now in the 2nd phase, valued at 90 thousand euros, includes the fixing up of green spaces, creation of pedestrian and cycling circuits with draining concrete, urban horticulture, as well as the implementation of zones for holiday accommodation and the improvement of already existing ones, and introduction of mitigation measures against flood risks.

“This undertaking aims to increase the offer of green spaces to the population, namely of Serra das Minas and Rinchoa receiving links to other municipal infrastructure,” the council concluded.