Low Emission Zones (Again)

So here we are, 2024 and past the deadline the government gave for the introduction of the LEZs.

So far, in the Alicante province, only Elche has said which it will be and it turns out there won't be any as the only controlled areas will be the ones already pedestrianised.

Alicante has announced they will be announcing them soon but will not include "any type of restriction or penalties for motorists" according to the mayor of Alicante. Apparently, according the opposition parties, the area is a "secret" and the deadline to implement them, if any, has been put back to June 2024.

Alicante has had several areas near the centre pedestrianised lately (anyone going past the traffic jams last year can testify to that) and the mayor has hinted that these will be the LEZ areas only along with the area in front of the castle.

Torrevieja? Not a peep. Rumours of it only being the new pedestrian areas near the port are going around but mutterings about Ramon Galud being included are also rife. The proposals have not yet been ratified so maybe another extension to the deadline?

Benidorm? They have actually said they will start from Jan 1st but say there are no further restrictions on mobility except the ones already in place which have been mainly pedestrianised area along Levante beach (previously restricted to deliveries etc), the centre but not clear which bit and the already pedestrianised areas of Poniente beach. Again, these proposals are still to be decided but those areas are "under tests" at the moment so be prepared to look out for signs.

Anyone seen any cameras or even signs going up anywhere?

Fantastic update, I’ve been keeping an eye out for any info on this emissions zone topic for ages with no info seen at all. So, thank you for the info, at least we know we can carry on as normal for the time being.

I was going to get the sticker tomorrow but won’t bother queuing in Correos yet
Thanks Marcliffe for the update

You mean as opposed to the much bigger queues you'll undoubtedly encounter when the zones do come into being

Get it online, it don't run out

sunworshipper wrote:I was going to get the sticker tomorrow but won’t bother queuing in Correos yet
Thanks Marcliffe for the update

Bit of a kerfuffle in Alicante about the LEZs.
The mayor of Alicante has agreed with the opposition parties that zones will be set up but there will be no fines or sanctions if you enter the zone with no sticker or a non compliant car. They say that those from Alicante should have the right to go from one area to another without being fined for doing so and quotes "freedom of movement for citizens".

One minor opposition party is against this as they say the money allocated by the EU to set up these zones will be withheld and they will lose payments to make other improvements.

The government has also got in on this quoting royal decrees on setting up zones which state sanctions and penalties will apply for non compliance.

Ah, well, they have until July now to sort things out so things will (probably) change before then.

Still a wall of silence from the Torrevieja ayuntamiento.

Thought there was going to be some sort of derogation for residents living inside LEZ's?

Darro wrote:Thought there was going to be some sort of derogation for residents living inside LEZ's?

Yes, those who are resident in the zones, have shops or garages in the zones etc will have a resident permit. This proposal by the mayor of Alicante was that no-one would get fined and that it would just be advisory.

Informacion

Further to the above, the left wing minority party in Alicante has referred the decision by the mayor and right wing opposition not to impose fines for entering LEZ to the EU to see if it accords with the EU rulings.

Further, Elche has now designated its LEZ but are awaiting the signs and cameras which should be in place soon. However, the only area designated is the 1.5Km existing pedestrian only areas in the centre of the city.



They have also joined in with Alicante and, despite the new ordinance of Elche stipulating a 200 euro fine can be imposed for transgressions, they will not impose any fines as the areas are already closed to traffic. They have also said that the emission stickers will not be required until 2049. Yes, 2049. I thought maybe a misprint but, no, it is confirmed in the Elche Ordinance on traffic control. They say they are not required as there are no limitations which is mirroring the Alicante stance.

Time to get out the beer and popcorn.

And in a similar vein, the new A33 motorway opened on Thursday which connects Murcia with Valencia via Yecla and Jumilla. It is estimated that this route will see some 4,000 trucks a day be diverted from the A7 around Alicante which could be good news for those going up the coast.

I saw in Informacion this week that the Government confirmed to Informacion that affected towns do not have to implement fines for cars without proper exemption stickers entering the ZBE zones but the Ayuntamientos would have to show evidence by way of air quality improvement. How would that work I wonder?

Bee