The local PP are asking the ruling party not to go ahead with the bicycle lane along the Velilla road between the new underground car park and El Tesorillo.

Their reasoning is two-fold: it is necessary to give the businesses a breather to recuperate from the economic disaster of having the road closed for three years, and secondly, because we cannot afford to lose another 160 parking places – free or not.

They have also requested the Town Council to carry out a survey to see if such a bicycle lane is going to have the use to justify its existence.

Editorially speaking, its a bloody disgrace and begs the question what was agreed within the specification of tender for the two underground car parks: did the Town Hall agree to eliminate any possible parking space that competes with them?

In a growing town that experiences a population increase from 27,000 to 150,000 in peak periods, how can you justify actually eliminating parking space?

Furthermore, ask yourself, how many customers are going to turn up to eat at the bars and restaurants between the underground car park and El Tesorillo on bicycles, compared to by car. Are diners expected to walk from the car park to the other end of the beach?

Let us finally remember that after the elimination of surface parking above the car park, only 150 rotational parking places of the total are available to visitors – the rest are private parking spaces. Where, therefore, are tourists expected to park come the tourist season?