The Socialist group within the Cabildo of Tenerife has this Tuesday supported the limitation of access for private vehicles to the Anaga Massif, allowing entry only for residents while prioritising high-occupancy vehicles and public transport.
In an announcement, the PSOE in Tenerife revealed their intention to submit a motion to the plenary commission next week, requesting a mobility strategy grounded in dialogue and direct collaboration with local residents and the business community, focusing on social and environmental sustainability.
Moreover, the Socialist group has urged that “the opinions of residents and the business community” in the area be considered in order to implement “rational and well-planned measures, which facilitate access for locals and foster the growth of small enterprises, thereby alleviating the current overcrowding.”
The PSOE believes that the proposal introduced by the president, Rosa Dávila, during the most recent plenary session of the island corporation—to ban the entry of large tourist coaches into Anaga starting in 2025—has been made “without any solid evidence.”‘
The socialist group has elaborated that this policy would “give way to thousands of private cars that congest this significant protected area of the island, exacerbating mobility issues and complicating daily life for its residents.”
The Socialist group reiterated its stance from opposition: a prior strategy needs to be developed in consultation with local inhabitants, limiting access for private vehicles except for residents and prioritising high-occupancy and public transport vehicles.
“Banning all buses will result in many visitors arriving in private cars and tourists hiring rental vehicles. Rosa Dávila’s decision could potentially worsen the situation,” the PSOE cautions.
During Pedro Martín’s term, efforts were initiated to address the traffic congestion within the rural park, which included a plan for the construction of a park-and-ride facility outside the area, in La Laguna, complemented by shuttle bus services to the park.
“On the contrary, as announced by the Cabildo president, building a parking area at Cruz del Carmen is an absurdity, as it will attract thousands of vehicles to the park,” they continued.
As such, they contend that “the most sensible approach is to utilise high-occupancy transport and to ensure that vehicles, aside from those belonging to Anaga residents, are parked in designated facilities located outside the park.”
However, the island president clarified during the plenary session that the park-and-ride would be situated in Las Canteras (La Laguna).
In summary, the PSOE in Tenerife laments that the island president, Rosa Dávila, “seems more interested in generating headlines than in addressing the genuine concerns of the residents” of the Anaga Massif.
