Residents of Vélez-Málaga were out on the streets yesterday over Town Council plans to impose new Blue Zones on many streets.
The protest, which had been organised on social media, took place on the Plaza de Las Carmelitas.
Participants were armed with whistles, slogans and banners… and the odd saucepan and something to bang it with.
The governing coalition, comprising of the PSOE and GIPMTM, intends to turn the old town into a Blue-Zone area, increasing the present number of BZ spaces across the town from 350 to 1,106.
“With all that is happening; the crisis and price rises, they want us to pay 20 euros a month to park – do they think we are rich?” asked one protester. She also regrets that while many on social media had much to say, but when it comes to actually turning up to protest, most were absent.
So, if there is so much opposition, who has been calling for such a measure? The answer is the local business associations who want more fluidity so that customers can find parking close to their businesses.
Protesters consider that it is a rip off because residents already pay local, vehicle taxes which in theory goes to the upkeep of streets and parking areas.
Since 2015, BZ parking areas are managed by an association for the handicapped, Amivel with a lease ending in April 2020, but it has been extended for the moment, pending new lease conditions being drawn up.
The Councillor for Mobility & Transport, Chema Domínguez (PSOE), has promised to appear before the press next week, whilst the Mayor, Antonio Moreno Ferrer (PSOE), has been praising the advantages of having BZ parking, which favours ‘fluidity.’ However, some new areas that had been painted blue have been repainted white… Indecision is afoot.
Editorial comment: there have been similar protests in the city of Granada where plans to increase blue zoning are going ahead.
One thing is for certain, with inflation cutting away at family economies, expecting residents to pay 20 euros a month per car is a gross miscalculation.
(News: Velez-Malaga, Axarquia, Costa del Sol, Malaga, Andalucia – Photo and source: E. Cabezas)
Patrick: I’d vote for you on that ticket!
I say. !! Get rid of stupid blue bollards in Salobrena beach road. Perfect parking before covid. Now we are safe to walk near each other. Fine keep them. But put them on the pavement edge. We are not American in shape. So do not need so much pedestrian space.
That way people can park up. Get wife,kids and beach stuff out without having to cross a road. This is a health and safety issue. That the council seem to have forgotten or not care about. As most people front park. Rather then reverse into a space. This is an issue. Plus the lost parking spaces in the bollarded off part of the road. Mind you I do not go down there in the summer months. Not worth the hassle. !!
Paul: there are quit a few businesses near the Altillo underground parking in Almuñécar – amongst them a Ana at the Kelibia Vetinary Clinic – who pay (a percentage at least) for your underground parking fee whilst you’re at your appointment. Free parking for residents would definitely be the sensible thing but Town Halls want to squeeze as much as they can from a lease to they want to make the lease terms attractive.
The article says that the current BZ contract is up for renewal. May be the 3 fold increase in BZ spots and the revenue from residents will make it more lucrative for the council when they sell the contract to the new parking wardens.
As local businesses are in favour the sensible thing would be to give free passes to the residents. This would stop practically all unrest and such a ‘magnanimous’ concession might actually get them re-elected rather than hounded out of office.