Funchal City Council has approved a recommendation to assess emergency access and safety conditions in the Nazaré neighbourhood, particularly in the residential area between Rua da Venezuela and Rua do Brasil.
The proposal, submitted by Chega councillor Luís Filipe Santos and approved on the 8th of October, aims to establish whether firefighters and other emergency teams can reach homes and manoeuvre their vehicles safely. The assessment will consider potential obstructions posed by street furniture, concrete structures, walls and vegetation.
The review will involve the relevant municipal departments, the Municipal Civil Protection Service and Funchal firefighters, in coordination with Madeira’s housing company, IHM, and other responsible bodies.
It will examine access routes, manoeuvring space, possible obstacles, and the location and working condition of fire hydrants and other firefighting water points. A controlled emergency drill may also be carried out to test the effectiveness of the response.
A technical report will then identify any access restrictions and assess whether corrective measures are needed.
In a statement, Luís Filipe Santos said emergency crews must be able to reach residents without encountering obstacles that could delay assistance during a fire or medical emergency. He stressed that lives were at stake and that families’ safety could not be compromised.
Although he welcomed the recommendation’s approval, the councillor said it must be followed by practical action to identify and resolve any problems.
He also called for emergency access to be considered from the design stage of future urban regeneration projects in Funchal, helping to prevent difficulties during rescue operations.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
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