The Administrative Contentious Court number three in Santa Cruz de Tenerife has accepted for processing an appeal from the municipal Vox group regarding the Low emissions zone (ZBE) in the capital of Tenerife.
The local government has forwarded the case to the court, which has taken on the appeal after the Superior Court of Justice of the Canary Islands (TSJC), where Vox initially sought remedy, declared it lacked jurisdiction to address it.
The matter has been referred to the Dean Court in Santa Cruz de Tenerife for allocation to the Administrative Contentious Courts.
Following the acceptance of the Vox appeal, Administrative Contentious Court number three has requested the case files from the City Council, which has complied as outlined in an announcement published in the Official Gazette of the Province, as reported by the press.
This project was ratified by the Municipal Government Board in June 2024, an agreement that Vox has contested, arguing that the intended restrictions may lead to adverse economic repercussions.
This initiative is mandatory for all municipalities and island territories with populations exceeding 50,000, and the contract was awarded in December 2022 to the consortium formed by the specialists Engineering and Wawa consultants in mobility for a total of €71,751. These entities will also oversee the project’s implementation.
The project encompasses the installation of nearly 30 entry points to the ZBE, equipped with security cameras and parking regulations.
The Mayor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, José Manuel Bermúdez, previously stated that the implementation is contingent on the formulation of a specific ordinance and has noted that the deadlines set by the EU are being met after securing the essential funding, which he believes is a unique accomplishment among Canarian municipalities.
Traffic Restrictions
This scheme stipulates that vehicles permitted to access, circulate, and park in the low emission zone must be properly labelled and identified, generally without requirement for municipal authorisation, should comprise those providing essential public services.
Such vehicles include those operated by state security forces, local police and mobility agents, firefighting services, civil protection and rescue teams, ambulances, other emergency services, municipal cranes, private security vehicles, and those used by healthcare professionals.
Authorization will also extend to vehicles of businesses and freelancers whose operational activities are conducted in premises or offices within the low emission zone, or those trading in municipal markets located in this area, as well as those invited by these entities, following the established regulatory protocol based on their mobility necessities.
Vehicles involved in medical consultations and treatments, along with those attending veterinary clinics due to mobility needs, will also receive access permissions.
Additionally, commercial vehicles that conform to the environmental standards set for each period designated for the urban distribution of goods will be allowed access, within specified timeframes according to the regulatory ordinance.
