The proposal to increase water tariffs for 2023, in Matosinhos, was approved. The decision was taken in the public meeting of the Executive. Only the PS voted in favor, while the remaining parties rejected the proposal
According to the Mayor of Matosinhos, Luísa Salgueiro, this increase is based on the contractual formula of Indaqua's concession, and that the Water and Waste Services Regulatory Authority (ERSAR) requires the municipality to apply. "We would prefer that it not increase, but there is no political measure in this update, it is simply a compliance with the rules," added the mayor.
The councilman for Financial Management and Auditing, Vasco Pinho, explained that after updating the indices and prices per consumer, and taking into account that the average individual consumption in Matosinhos is 7.14 cubic meters per month, the increase in the bill will be 1.18 euros, of which 1.10 euros are revenue from Indaqua.
Although approved, the proposal had the votes against the PCP, the PSD and the movement António Parada Sim!
The councilman of the PCP, José Pedro Rodrigues, justified his vote against by stating that "the set of fees that increases significantly will penalize the people of Minho, and water is an essential good, the party is against the decision that comes at a peculiar time when we are witnessing a high inflation in most goods.
Still, the Municipality pointed out that water is still the cheapest, compared to other municipalities in the Metropolitan Area of Porto.
Temporary closure of the mobile bridge in 2024
In an interview to Lusa, the president of the Administration of Ports of Douro, Leixões and Viana do Castelo (APDL) revealed, last December 22, that an extended maintenance will be done for a few months in the mobile bridge of Leixões, foreseeing that the works will take place in 2024.
At the meeting, the PSD councilman, Bruno Pereira, showed himself "concerned" about the impact of the closure, since it will cause a "traffic bottleneck on the A28". "Let's hope that the new administration of APDL collaborates with the people of Matosinhos and does not get in the way," added the councilman. Of the same opinion as Bruno Pereira, the PCP councilman, José Pedro Rodrigues, exposed that "after it was repaired, in 2015, the bridge has given constant problems".
On this topic, the Mayor of Matosinhos, Luísa Salgueiro, reinforced that the works will be to make repairs, confirming that the municipality will study, along with APDL, the best way to make this intervention in a short term. "We have already asked for a project, but it is not yet concluded", said the mayor.
PSD warns about the lack of subway network in Matosinhos
The PSD councilman, Bruno Pereira alerted to the structural problems in Senhora da Hora station, and the concern for the lack of investment in the expansion of new lines in Matosinhos, such as the São Mamede de Infesta line project which is "without progress".
The subject "returned once again to the Executive meeting, but the answer is the same", said Luísa Salgueiro, explaining that "a cover will not be built, as was previously proposed, since the studies of Metro do Porto foresees that that station is underground".
As for the subway lines, the mayor says that the Municipality has already commissioned market studies to show, in an objective way, the need for the construction of more lines, and has already reduced the costs, to make the projects more accessible. However, "the expansion of the network may be more justified in other municipalities, and this is beyond the municipality", explained Luísa Salgueiro.
Conclusion of works will create 105 homes
The Council of Ministers authorized the expenditure for the solution of the acquisition and rehabilitation of 105 houses, in two unfinished buildings, at Flor de Infesta Street, in Matosinhos, under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).
In the meeting, Luísa Salgueiro announced the authorization of the application made in 2021, and that the requalification of those two buildings should help in the shortage of social housing.
In the communiqué published in the Diário da República, one can read that "the Housing and Urban Rehabilitation Institute (IHRU), as the intermediary beneficiary, will be able to make the expense up to the amount of about 19 thousand euros".
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