To be clear, the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in Torrevieja’s centre will be implemented throughout 2026, but the sanctioning system to reduce harmful vehicle emissions and enhance air quality will not take effect until January 1st, 2027.
The Torrevieja City Council, which has been working on this project since 2023, intends to provisionally pass the decree defining these timelines and governing the LEZ next Monday. Although this European and national legislation does not particularly persuade the Popular Party’s (PP) governing team, because it generally maintains that air quality in the tourist city is good all year, the process has been accelerated to avoid further losses of European funds associated with the implementation of the system.
What is the LEZ?
Vehicle access, circulation, and parking limitations are imposed in LEZs in order to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions based on vehicle classification. Normally, older cars should not be allowed in the city centre, except for those belonging to residents or for parking. Controlled access zones are created for this purpose. Torrevieja has two zones. The most central zone will go into force in January 2027, followed by the one around it, which is likewise located in the city centre, in 2029.
The €1.7 million awards include a video surveillance system with 52 cameras, which may also be used for traffic control in a beachfront region where roads will be pedestrianised and semi-pedestrianised. In addition, sensors will be installed to monitor environmental variables, an awareness campaign will be started, and over 150 vertical signs will be installed, among other things.
Torrevieja has 100,000 residents, which is twice the legal limit of 50,000 for which a city must implement an LEZ, and it is one of the municipalities that has trailed the most behind in complying with the traffic limitation laws established by state and European legislation. According to the ordinance, the laws aim to support the recovery of public space as well as “the promotion of more sustainable, connected, and safe modes of transport.”
Moratorium
A moratorium on the application of limitations will be in effect from the ordinance’s final approval date until January 1, 2027, during which no penalties will be enforced for infractions. During this time, LEZ users will be notified through awareness campaigns, and violators may even be sent an informative paper outlining the infraction they committed, without suffering the penalty that would apply if the moratorium period was not in effect.
According to Sueña Torrevieja councillor Pablo Samper, the legislation does not mention that the ZBE will only operate if a pollution threshold is exceeded, contrary to the government team’s claims. Statements delivered by both the mayor, Eduardo Dolón, and the councillor for Security, Federico Alarcón. Samper adds that the ZBE “exists and will operate, with a moratorium on sanctions beginning January 1, 2027.” The money will be 200 euros.
Fear of enforcing laws
Samper will urge suitable explanations during the plenary session so that citizens “have the maximum amount of information, without confusing interpretations.” We don’t know if the mayor is frightened to enforce the legislation, hasn’t read it, or has been misled by his councillors and advisors,” he says.
The ordinance, which will be temporarily passed on Monday, does include extra restrictions that can be activated by the City Council by a mayoral decree only during specific episodes of excessive pollution. The PP government is counting on this provision to ensure that limitations are only imposed in the event of bad air quality.
The member of the opposition said, “In addition, we have questioned Councillor Federico Alarcón at the plenary session this September to provide the appropriate explanations and to inform us of the current status of the part of the subsidy for the implementation of low-emission zones granted in 2022 of 3,421,700 euros, and not paid in either 2023, 2024 or the first half of 2025.”
Sueña Torrevieja reminds that the governing board of August 8th, 2025 agreed to withdraw from the procedure for awarding the contract for the connection of bicycle lanes with the ZBE and school routes, due to the material impossibility of complying with the resolution of January 20th, 2025, which determined the obligation to complete the planned actions by December 31, 2025. Failure to justify it in time by the beneficiaries of the aid would entail repayment.
Author: Derek Appleton
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