The newly implemented Managing Plan for Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which aims to create 4,100 new parking spaces in the forthcoming years, alongside the organisation of blue (non-resident) and green areas (for residents) with a system of charges and time restrictions, was a significant topic addressed during yesterday’s Plenary session of the city council. Additionally, the issue of housing was discussed, particularly following the decision not to classify Santa Cruz as a tension zone. Furthermore, despite opposition from the PSOE, the budget for 2025 was approved, totalling 364 million euros.
The socialist spokesperson, Patricia Hernández, brought forth a motion regarding the parking situation in the capital, where she accused the local administration and, specifically, the mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez, along with the Councillor for Mobility, Evelyn Alonso, of removing parking spaces without providing alternatives and informing citizens they would need to pay for on-street parking.
Hernández further stated that “the shortage of spaces, exacerbated by the removal policy initiated by the current administration, has evolved into one of the pressing mobility issues in the municipality, stemming from the failure to execute over 20,000 parking spaces outlined in existing plans or the 7,200 spaces indicated in the Urban Mobility Plan, which was approved in 2014 and updated in 2023.”
“In addition to not being constructed, there has been an ongoing removal of spaces in the La Salud neighbourhood, where 1,500 spaces were anticipated, of which only 500 have been announced; in the La Victoria area, 1,000 spaces; 300 in the Retamas de San Antonio; 500 around La Rambla; and another 500 in Duggi,” remarked the socialist representative, who cautioned that “not only are spaces being eliminated, but yellow lines are also being painted in locations where, ultimately, they may need to be retracted.”
She also accused Alonso of not only failing to provide the planned spaces but also removing those that were slated for elimination: 740 spaces in the first phase, 555 in the second, and 167 in the third. Similarly, the Vox spokesperson, Alejandro Gómez, lamented that “the execution of projects is disappearing, which indicates a lack of proper planning.” The PSOE’s motion called for a preliminary study on mobility and parking alternatives before any parking spaces are removed, but it was turned down by the governing coalition (CC and PP). In response, Councillor for Public Services, Carlos Tarife (PP), stated that “a technical mobility study is always conducted before the removal of parking areas” and reminded that “new spaces have been created in San Andrés, Chamberí or Avenida de los Princes, adding 130 spaces,” which the PSOE does not regard as “new, but merely spaces derived from temporary land uses.”
On her part, Councillor for Mobility, Evelyn Alonso (CC), asserted that “all parking spaces removed for the sake of construction or renovation will be replaced, and alternatives will be explored where necessary.” Additionally, she pointed out the irony in the opposition bringing forth a motion against blue and green zones when they have implemented such measures in Las Palmas, where they hold the governing position. The mayor also clarified that “the parking issue is not exclusive to Santa Cruz, thus the new parking strategy will facilitate the better management of the 65,000 parking spaces currently available in the municipality, while also creating 4,100 new spaces, as for the first time, it will allow for vertical construction.” Regarding the blue and green zones, she announced that “the goal is to improve efficiency in parking management, leading to pricing adjustments in the areas with the highest traffic, albeit during peak hours.”
Tensioning Area
Moreover, Bermúdez’s decision not to request the Canarian Government to designate Santa Cruz as a tension zone was the focal point of another socialist motion, which called on the city council to prepare a study to assess the impact of changes in property sale and rental prices, as well as to categorise areas that fulfil the necessary criteria as tension zones, according to an external report commissioned by the council itself. The mayor, Elena Mateo, argued that “analysing municipal housing, following the model in Catalonia, or the building of 37 residences in María Jiménez does not constitute a viable solution, as action must be taken now, especially since rental prices have already soared to 2,500 euros in the central region.”
The discussion centred around the scarcity of land available for urban development, with CC, PP, and Vox blaming Pedro Sánchez for not advancing the Housing Law and leaving property owners vulnerable to illegal occupations. The mayor emphasised that “the State pledged 300 new properties in Ofra and Vistabella, amidst a total of 184,000 planned across the country, yet, thus far, we have seen none materialise within the municipality.”
