Setúbal residents to march for public access to Arrábida

A group of citizens and environmentalists is holding a walk and picnic on Sunday at the Comenda picnic area near Setúbal, protesting against new restrictions on access to the Arrábida hills and beaches. Organisers, including academic Viriato Soromenho Marques and local campaign groups, object to a barrier recently installed on the road to the beaches and to a court claim by the owners of Herdade da Comenda seeking full ownership of five beaches. The municipality says the barrier responds to storm damage from earlier this year, but campaigners see it as part of a wider attempt to privatise public spaces.