Elche council to take action against more airport parking companies

New actions have been carried out in the districts of Saladas and El Altet concerning two airport car parks covering a combined surface area of 10,000 square metres and holding approximately 500 vehicles. For the larger facility, which contains more than 300 cars, closure proceedings have been initiated and those responsible have been granted a period of fifteen days to complete the removal of the vehicles remaining inside the premises. Meanwhile, for the smaller yard, located on a private property linked to a domestic residence, notification of the action has been issued to those responsible for the installation. Due to the refusal to permit access by Local Police officers to the property, municipal services will verify information regarding the presence of cars and carry out actions through legal services.

Since 23rd April, when the Local Government Board approved a motion to prevent the opening of new parking yards around the airport, the Elche City Council has closed four such facilities and initiated procedures to request judicial authorisation to shut down a fifth. In total, the sites affected by municipal actions hold or have held more than 4,000 vehicles. Since April and May, more than 100 vehicle yards have been inspected, with over 50 inspections carried out by Local Police officers. Furthermore, since 4th June, 46 regularisation requirements have been issued to the owners of these activities.

The municipal procedure begins with the inspection of the facilities by technical services and the Local Police, who verify the activity carried out, identify the owners and check for the corresponding authorisations. Subsequently, those responsible are required to submit a descriptive report of the activity and a technical certificate proving compliance with applicable conditions, for which they have a period of three months.

Once the documentation has been examined and a hearing granted to the interested parties, the city council studies each case individually and adopts the corresponding administrative measures, which may include the closure of installations that fail to meet established requirements. In cases where access to spaces protected by the inviolability of the home is necessary and there is no consent from the owners, the city council must request judicial authorisation to execute actions requiring such entry.

Concurrently, the Elche City Council is working on the drafting of a Special Plan to organise and regulate the establishment of these activities within the municipal district. The current General Urban Development Plan, approved in 1998, does not expressly include this parking use on non-developable land among the activities authorised through a Declaration of Community Interest. Therefore, the new planning instrument will make it possible to determine the areas where these activities may be developed and establish the necessary conditions to guarantee their proper territorial, environmental and landscape integration.