Owners of “green” hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric automobiles, large families and antique vehicles over 25 years old will enjoy a 75% discount on vehicle tax payments from 2026 in Torrevieja . The plenary session of the City Council adopted a proposal brought by the councillor of Sueña Torrevieja, Pablo Samper , in this regard, which was supported by all groupings with the adoption of an amendment by the PP in the local Government.

The proposal by Sueña Torrevieja anticipated an additional universal decrease of 20% in the tax for all automobiles and motorbikes, but this claim does not exist in the text revised by the PP, which is the party that must process the motion. The proposition renews the key factors of an ordinance that has not been revised since 2014, as Pablo Samper pointed out.

The Popular Party also asserted that these advantages for owners of electric and hybrid cars were incorporated in its electoral plan when it accepted Sueña’s text.

He also added in his amendment that it will apply to vehicle owners who prove they have large families, claiming that these vehicles tend to be larger and consequently more expensive for families.

Torrevieja now has 66,689 registered vehicles and motorcycles and collects 5.3 million euros yearly from this Tax on Mechanically Propelled Vehicles , which is collected under municipal authority, however delegated through SUMA Gestión Tributaria.

Even more so given that it originated from the opposition, the motion received the unprecedented support of all four groups: PP, PSOE, Sueña, and Vox.

This approval is usually only granted for symbolic institutional pronouncements and requests. It is particularly unusual in that it does not appear to be shelved, which is typically happens to political motions outside of municipal management.

According to PP Government sources, the Treasury has already received the idea and is working on the study needed to implement it. Since the ratio of electric automobiles barely above 10%, the benefits won’t require a substantial drop in income. The PP would have considered this while endorsing the Sueña Torrevieja motion. The same sources highlighted that the tax’s collection enables the implementation of current pedestrian safety measures and resurfacing projects on public roads.

The project file for the installation and takedown of shade sails on public roadways, funded by European Next Generation funds, has been accepted by the Local Government Board. Between May and October, 3,203 square meters of shade will be installed throughout the historic centre, particularly in calle Corredora, Obispo Tormo, Hospital, Solars, carrer Ample and Major del Pla. The contract was awarded last December.

Government spokesperson Inma Mora remarked that “this is a project that demonstrates the commitment of this government team to the well-being of the people of Elche, as these awnings will fulfil the function of mitigating the impact of the sun on the main shopping streets of Elche.”

In order to lessen the effects of the summer heat, the Shade Plan calls for actions like planting more trees in the city or considering this kind of shading in parks, gardens, and other public areas like squares, streets, and children’s play areas.

2.1 million for school air conditioning installation

However, the beginning of the procedure for awarding the contract for installing ventilation and air conditioning in municipal baby schools was agreed at the meeting on Thursday. In order to enhance the quality of life for the kids, teachers, and other professionals who work in these schools, Mora emphasised, “today we are taking a further step and starting the awarding of the contract for these works.”

In an effort to lessen the extreme summer temperatures, air conditioners will be installed in Don Crispín, Don Honorio, Don Julio, Elx Xiquets, and Rosa Fernández. The contract’s base tender budget is 2.1 million euros, and the air conditioning installation will be completed in the summer to avoid interfering with the academic year. The installation will take 10 weeks to complete.

Firefighters have found the lifeless body of the pyrotechnician from Alicante Pedro Luis Sirvent inside his workshop, located in the Fontcalent area of ​​Alicante, after a tragic explosion that occurred on Thursday morning for reasons that are still being investigated. The incident also caused four injuries, one of them seriously, with burns on 80% of his body, according to emergency services sources.

One of the injured is the son of the pyrotechnic artist and has suffered an anxiety attack, for which he has been treated at the scene of the tragedy. A 43-year-old woman has been taken by ambulance to the General Hospital of Alicante for anxiety attacks and mild smoke inhalation. The most seriously injured person, a 68-year-old man, has been transferred by helicopter to the Burns Unit of the La Fe hospital in Valencia.

The incident occurred at around 11.20 am, when, for reasons still to be clarified, a fire broke out in the warehouse area, where the material for the shows is sold to the public and stored. The Alicante Local Police were the first to arrive at the workshop. With the building still on fire, municipal security officers went in to rescue the victims, explained the mayor himself, Luis Barcala. The mayor was “very dismayed”, since Pedro Luis Sirvent was a very popular man at the Hogueras de San Juan.

Along with numerous emergency teams, police officers from the homicide, judicial, and explosives units (Tedax) have assembled in the area. Both José María Conesa, the top official of the Local Police of Alicante, and Manuel Lafuente, the provincial commissioner of the National Police, have visited the scene of the events.

Soon after, they were joined by the President of the Federació de Fogueres, David Olivares, the Bellea del Foc, Alba Muñoz, the Mayor of Alicante, Luis Barcala, the Councillor for Security, Julio Calero, and the Sub-delegate of the Government in Alicante, Juan Antonio Nieves, among other officials. Two helicopters, one of which was medicalised, two ambulances, and basic life support (SVB) were sent to the scene. Additionally present were firefighters from the Prevention, Extinction of Fires and Rescue Service (Speis) of Alicante and the Provincial Consortium of the Diputación, who used a drone to collect more accurate data on the explosion’s consequences.

To keep the fire from spreading to the location where the fireworks were being made, which is across the workshop’s central courtyard, firefighters have roped off the area.

The Fire Brigade has requested a temporary suspension of the Alicante-Madrid AVE line since the explosion caused some pyrotechnics to fly onto the railway lines. Train traffic had returned at 3:25 p.m.

As a show of unity, the Federació de Fogueres has halted all celebrations this Thursday and Friday. Additionally, the festive organisation has expressed the institutional aim of the Bellesses del Foc and their Dames d’Honor. David Olivares, the president, has visited Fontcalent to personally observe the dire circumstances.

Over 100 emergency workers participated in the effort, which illustrates the tragedy’s scope.

See the earlier story here https://costablancadaily.com/2025/03/06/a-fire-at-a-pyrotechnics-factory-injures-two/