Delay to Alicante parking tender after request for further reports

The new contract for the controlled parking service, better known as the ORA or blue zone, as well as the towing service, will have to wait longer in Alicante. The governing team, from the People’s Party (PP), has not resumed processing the tender nearly a month after the Central Administrative Court of Contractual Appeals (TACRC)—the body attached to the Ministry of Finance that has jurisdiction to resolve disputes over public tenders—endorsed its conditions, in response to appeals filed by the Setex group and by the current consortium of companies providing the service, formed by Vectalia and Pavapark, which were dismissed.

That decision should have led to the resumption of the evaluation of the only proposal submitted: precisely the same joint venture comprised of Vectalia and Pavapark, according to sources consulted. However, that evaluation remains blocked due to a request for additional reports, as explained by the co-spokesperson for the governing team and Councillor for Procurement, Manuel Villar, in the weekly press conference where the agreements adopted at the weekly meeting of the Local Board (the body that makes most decisions related to municipal management) are reported.

In this regard, Villar indicated that they are analysing the possibility of revising some aspects of the tender specifications, even though they were validated by the TACRC. Essentially, they are considering increasing the tender amount—from 140 million€ for 19 years of operation, according to the established requirements—to avoid having to undergo subsequent modifications, given the challenges raised regarding the financial quantification stipulated in the tender.

This potential review of the tender process casts doubt on any timeline for resolving the contracting process, whether through an award agreement or by declaring it void, should the sole registered alternative fail to meet the established requirements. Thus, the award could be delayed until the end of the year, after the general elections on November 29th.

More spaces and free admission for residents

As this newspaper has been reporting, the new tender for the service includes changes to the service. Among them is the construction of a new vehicle impound lot on a municipal plot of land located in the Rabasa neighbour hood, adjacent to the site designated for the construction of the new Guardia Civil headquarters.

Furthermore, it also includes the expansion of controlled parking spaces. Specifically, 3,077 new spaces are planned, distributed across the Ensanche-Diputación, Benalúa, Alipark, and Princesa Mercedes neighbourhood s. However, the majority of these—up to 2,542—will be in the orange zone. Secondly, it also includes the implementation of free parking for residents in the designated orange zone spaces—both existing and new—meaning they will not have to pay to park, unlike other users who park in these areas.

At the same time, other changes have been added, such as the end of free parking between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM, the introduction of discounts for vehicles adapted for people with reduced mobility, and the requirement for motorcycle owners to pay. However, these changes remain subject to updates to the regulations governing the system and the tax ordinance that regulates parking prices.

Outstanding payment and criticism from the PSOE

Meanwhile, the governing team also approved yesterday, Tuesday 20th October, at the same Local Council meeting, an amendment to the court order recognising the payment of outstanding amounts owed to the joint venture (Vectalia and Pavapark, as mentioned) for services rendered, totalling 325,949.43€. This agreement has drawn criticism from the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party) municipal group. Their spokesperson, Trini Amorós, pointed out that the governing team “has already paid three million euro in interest for late invoice payments.”

“While Barcala squanders three million euro of Alicante taxpayers’ money on court-ordered settlements for his financial mismanagement, Alicante is missing out on numerous opportunities. With that money, six parks like Lo Morant could have been renovated, the budget for senior citizens’ activities could have been significantly increased (currently only 340,000 euro), and subsidies for young people’s rental housing, which amount to a mere 248,000 euro, could have been significantly expanded,” Amorós pointed out.

Furthermore, he urged the mayor, Luis Barcala, to reveal “when he plans to implement the new contract for the blue zone, which adds 3,077 parking spaces to the orange and blue zones in areas such as Ensanche-Diputación, Benalúa and Benalúa Sur, Alipark, Princesa Mercedes, and the area around the courthouses.” “It seems Barcala is hiding this issue because he doesn’t want it to explode before the elections. What we demand from the mayor is that he be brave and tell the people of Alicante when he’s going to start bleeding them dry with paid parking,” he concluded.