Costa Blanca

Alicante’s Low Emissions Zone

Unlike in other cities, Alicante’s downtown will not see new limits on private car circulation as a result of the ZBE’s adoption. With the installation of numerous environmental sensors and surveillance cameras, however, the municipal government team guarantees that it will enable better management of atmospheric pollutant volumes in real time.

Sensors for the environment

There is no significant pollution problem in Alicante. Actually, out of all the major cities in Spain, several studies have found that ours is the cleanest. Still, we’re taking a number of targeted steps to bring it down even further. Our new infrastructure will be a huge boon, says Manuel Villar, our deputy mayor and environmental sustainability councillor.

The city’s Benalúa Market, Bullring, José Rico Pérez stadium, Station, and General Hospital are among the locations where fourteen sensors have been set up. When these readings reach dangerously high levels, the City Council will be able to take action, including temporarily shutting down traffic, based on the data.
Typically, the haze that occasionally originates from the Sahara is the culprit responsible for the most severe pollution incidents that Alicante experiences, rather than cars. But we haven’t gotten particularly extreme in recent years, and I don’t see the need to do something drastic. According to the deputy mayor, “at least we’ll have objective data to act objectively” now.

Cameras that record

To further keep an eye on traffic, new video surveillance cameras have also been set up. Although optical cable has been laid that might encompass as many as 300 recording devices, only about 100 have been operational so far.
“These cameras will not be used to fine drivers, but rather to provide us with information that will allow us to improve mobility in the city and to redirect traffic flows in order to reduce traffic congestion,” Villar points out.
Officially, the ZBE encompasses the Old Town, the Traditional Centre, and Gran Via, which together form three rings. Finally, this final zone will implement traffic limits in the same manner that they have done since 2011. So, these streets are off-limits to everyone save residents, garage owners, and employees. Sanctions will be implemented, and fines will shortly be increased.
Fines for cars that don’t follow the ZBE’s rules have been increased, according to a deal struck by the Federation of Municipalities. According to the Alicante traffic ordinance, they are currently around 80 euros, but Villar tells us they will likely climb to around 200 euros.
Greater urban density
The sea wind certainly helps Alicante’s air quality, which typically scores well on quality assessments; however, our city’s population has been growing at a large rate for a number of years.
We had 328,000 registered users a decade ago, and by the end of 2024, we had 359,000. Thanks to this change in population distribution, we are now the tenth most populous city in Spain, above Bilbao.
Even though there are more people living here and more cars on the road, pollution levels in Alicante have been rather constant in recent years. Pedestrianisation and lane reductions are two examples of the effective actions we have taken to reduce traffic on different streets. According to Villar, this is the path that we intend to take moving forward.

The Town Hall Area streets of Jorge Juan and Rafael Altamira will not be part of the pedestrianisation of the Town Hall Square.
Regarding this matter, it was recently declared by Mayor Luis Barcala that the Town Hall Square will be pedestrianised. It was indeed this very situation last autumn, when the Town Hall building’s façade collapsed, closing the street for weeks and forcing the closure of operations.
The city can keep running even without this traffic, thanks to this terrible occurrence. Also, the Councillor for Environmental Sustainability notes that town hall squares are usually not a common site for cars to circulate, both in Spain and elsewhere.
The project’s pedestrianisation will be limited to the area within the square; streets like Jorge Juan and Rafael Altamira will still be accessible for vehicles. Considering the bus routes that pass through this area, the next step is to do the necessary investigations to identify other transportation options. It is the expectation of the City Council that the works can commence by the year’s end and be finished in 2026.

Additional methods

Furthermore, we are assured by the government team that additional measures would be implemented to further decrease pollution levels.
All of the buses will soon be electric or hybrid models. Furthermore, we strive to enhance the tree cover and pavement size in every project we do. The deputy mayor assures us that, in addition to cars, they will promote the usage of scooters and bicycles.

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Earthquake drill about to start in Torrevieja

Torrevieja is conducting an earthquake exercise today, Friday March 21st. Federico Alarcón, Councillor for Security and Emergencies, proclaimed that the city is conducting this drill to “be prepared in case something similar happens again, God forbid,” concomitant with the tragedy that occurred in 1829 as a result of an earthquake that impacted the entire Vega Baja region. Additionally, the councillor underscores the significance of “mutual understanding” among all agencies involved in an emergency situation, such as an earthquake. Efficient mitigation necessitates the manner in which those who are required to respond to a catastrophe do so. In reality, this exercise will involve a variety of entities, including the Red Cross, Civil Guard, Civil Protection, Local Police, SAMU (National Emergency Management Service), and firefighters.

The earthquake exercise will be conducted in three phases, as per Tomás Jesús Gallardo, the head of the Torrevieja Main Fire Station. The initial phase, “phase 0”, will involve a seismic alert. During this period, a Municipal Operational Coordination Centre (CECOPAL) will be established to determine whether the municipality’s schools should be evacuated in the event of “the imminent occurrence of a hypothetical earthquake”. The intervening bodies will concentrate on resolving the situation in the second phase, with a particular emphasis on the Sports Palace and the Las Lagunas Secondary School. Lastly, the “normalisation phase” will involve a press conference to provide an update on the seismic event, the response, and its repercussions.

The Councillor for Security and Emergencies emphasised that this is merely an exercise, as numerous residents mistakenly contact emergency services during these drills, believing them to be genuine emergencies. Indeed, Torrevieja is scheduled to host the weekly Friday market during the exercise, which commences at 9:30 a.m. Federico Alarcón says that the exercise will not encounter any difficulties due to this market. He also stated that it is advantageous that the potential earthquake does not occur at a time that is convenient for all parties involved.

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In Alicante, a criminal group that specialised in robberies at pharmacies and banks has been dismantled

In the provinces of Alicante, Valencia, and Murcia, the Guardia Civil and the National Police have dismantled a criminal organisation that specialised in the burglary of pharmacies, banks, and businesses as part of Operation Farmacash-Botica. The operation led to the apprehension of six individuals and the confiscation of specialised tools, cash, and vehicles that were used in the robberies.

A criminal organisation that is structured and professional in nature

The Guardia Civil and the National Police initiated a joint investigation in August 2024 in response to an increase in robberies at pharmacies, particularly in El Campello, Playa de San Juan, and Marina Alta. The burglaries were executed with remarkable speed and precision: the perpetrators forced open doors, tore open cash registers or safes, and fled in high-end vehicles with modified license plates.

The criminal network, which was composed of individuals with a variety of criminal histories, maintained a rigid division of labour. Some members were responsible for the robbery itself, while others served as security personnel, employing shuttle vehicles. Others provided escape vehicles, which were previously stolen automobiles.

Concurrent arrests and confiscation of property

A total of seven residence searches were conducted in Orihuela, Torrevieja, Benidorm, Villajoyosa, and Dénia after months of investigation, resulting in the arrest of six members of the organisation. In the course of the searches, €7,000 in cash, a blank-firing pistol, clothing utilised in the burglaries, bolt cutters and other lock-picking tools, GPS tracking beacons, walkie-talkies, an OBD key-cloning machine, an Italian Police tactical vest, and five vehicles utilised in the crimes were seized.

The investigation was conducted by the Assets Team of the Patrimonio de la Unidad Orgánica de Policía Judicial (UOPJ) of Alicante, the Equipo Contra el Crimen Organizado based in Alicante (ECO Levante) la Unidad Central Operativa (UCO) and the Unidad de Delincuencia Especializada y Violenta (UDEV) of the National Police of Alicante. The Judicial Police Team of the Guardia Civil of San Juan and the Guardia Civil and Local Police of El Campello also collaborated.

Albanian, Kosovar, Bulgarian, and Yugoslav nationalities are represented among the detainees, who possess extensive criminal histories in Spain. One of them is prohibited from entering the country, while the other has a history of homicide in Ukraine. They have been charged with 42 counts of burglary, larceny with violence, organised crime, and document falsification. They have been hauled before Investigating Court No. 3 of Elche, which has ordered their imprisonment.

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Sticky Vicky’s daughter quits mum’s iconic Benidorm show

Adhesive the stage act has been sensationally abandoned by Vicky’s daughter, who has followed in her late mother’s footsteps, thereby leaving behind her family’s Benidorm legacy.

The unexpected decision was made after María Gadea Aragón assumed responsibility for the adult-themed magic performances following the passing of her mother, Victoria María Aragón Gadea, in 2023 at the age of 80.

María, who had been employing her mother’s stage identity in the well-known Spanish resort, has now discontinued her performances after a decade on stage.

María performed frequently at venues including the Palladium, Zodiaco, and Rockerfellers, as well as Benidorm which is a popular destination for British expatriates and vacationers.

Des Bellamy-Wright, an employee at the Benidorm Palladium, verified that María is no longer employed in the lively Spanish city. Des stated, “Sticky Vicky is no longer operational in Benidorm.” The ‘Carmen Snake – Sticky Show’ is a similarly entertaining program that is broadcast every night at 12:45 a.m. “

The official reason for Maria’s retirement was not disclosed, and her final performance was in November 2024.