Representatives from various communities within Anaga Rural Park have concurred to provide a timeframe of one to a month and a half for the Cabildo de Tenerife to implement a viable solution for traffic regulation, particularly in the vicinity of Cruz del Carmen. Should they fail to receive a response, or if the response does not involve tangible actions, they threaten to organise a demonstration involving road closures at San Andrés and Las Canteras.
This consensus was formed during a meeting on Friday, which included representatives from neighbourhood associations in Taganana, Chinamada, Las Carboneras, Roque Negro, Afur, La Cumbre, Los Catalanes, and Taborno, alongside residents from various localities.
During the session, a range of proposals were discussed, leading to the creation of a joint document that will be submitted for validation by each group, complete with their respective seal. Additionally, it will include petitions signed by residents from each area to lend support to the demand.
Local residents emphasise that the urgent priority is the immediate regulation of traffic at the most problematic points in the park, such as La Cruz del Carmen. They caution that they are not willing to wait indefinitely for unmet promises, noting that they have been requesting definitive measures for years without success. “We can no longer afford to let time pass. They have been making promises for years,” they assert.
Mobility in Anaga: between promises and demands
This stance forms part of a dispute that has persisted for over two years, during which residents of the Anaga communities have reported traffic congestion caused by the overwhelming number of vehicles and tourist buses, which hampers their daily mobility and access to essential services. They are advocating for increased control, appropriate signage, a police presence during peak periods, and penalties for improperly parked vehicles.
The Cabildo de Tenerife has proclaimed that from May onwards, a ban on the entry of large tourist buses will be enforced and has allocated over 428,000 euros for an intelligent mobility system featuring sensors that will facilitate real-time vehicle counting and classification. Nonetheless, locals believe that these measures fail to address the pressing nature of the current situation.
According to official statistics, Anaga Rural Park attracts approximately 1.5 million visitors annually, translating to about 4,100 individuals each day. Neighbourhood associations contend that until uncontrolled visitor access is curtailed and public transport is enhanced, the coexistence of the resident population and tourism activity will remain unfeasible.
