Elche shuts down another vehicle compound in Torrellano Alto with capacity for 1,000 cars

The local police in Elche proceeded with the closure of another vehicle compound situated in Torrellano Alto, featuring an area of 8,000 square metres and a capacity to accommodate up to 1,000 cars.

This action forms part of the inspection, control and regularisation scheme for vehicle compounds developed by the Elche Town Council, particularly around the Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernandez airport, with the objective of halting the proliferation of facilities that fail to comply with regulatory requirements.

Following this latest intervention, the town council has shut down a total of four vehicle compounds, prevented the opening of a fifth and maintained a sixth facility’s closure under judicial processing. Together, these municipal actions affect installations holding or capable of holding more than 5,000 vehicles.

The closure in Torrellano Alto adds to operations carried out over recent weeks in the districts of Saladas and El Altet, where the council intervened in two compounds totalling around 500 vehicles and a combined surface area of 10,000 square metres.

On 23rd April, the local government board approved a motion to prevent the opening of new parking compounds near the airport. Since then, the town council has intensified inspection and surveillance duties for this type of installation.

Since the months of April and May, more than 100 vehicle compounds have been inspected, with over 50 inspections conducted by local police officers. Additionally, since 4 June, 46 regularisation requests have been issued to the holders of these activities.

The municipal procedure begins with the inspection of facilities by technical services and the local police, who check the developed activity, identify holders and verify the existence of corresponding authorisations.

Subsequently, those responsible are required to present a descriptive report of the activity and a technical certificate accrediting compliance with required conditions, for which they are given a three-month period.

Once documentation is examined and interested parties are given a hearing, the town council studies each case individually and adopts corresponding administrative measures, which can include the closure of installations failing to meet established requirements.

Concurrently, the Elche Town Council is working on drafting a special plan to order and regulate the implementation of these activities within the municipal territory.

The current general urban development plan, approved in 1998, does not expressly contemplate this parking use on non-developable land among activities authorised through a declaration of community interest.

Therefore, the new urban instrument will determine areas where these activities can be developed and establish necessary conditions to guarantee their adequate territorial, environmental and landscape integration.

The town council thus maintains inspection and control actions to guarantee compliance with urban legality, prevent the disorderly proliferation of compounds and balance economic activity with the protection of territory and the general interest.