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Date Published: 12/11/2024

Lorca city is preparing to introduce its Low Emissions Zone for cars

The ayuntamiento has presented its project for the Low Emission Zone to overhaul mobility and urban sustainability in the city

Lorca has developed its Zona de Bajas Emisiones (Low Emission Zone or ZBE) project for the city, a plan which has been specially adapted to meet the reality of the municipality as a heritage city.

Local councillor for Urban Planning and the Environment, María Hernández, said, “Faced with the implementation of the Low Emission Zone in Lorca, the City Council has always been committed to achieving a development model that is truly adapted to the current needs of the city and not the other way around, and without the establishment of prohibitive measures… that have economic sanctions at their core.”

She specified, “It is not a question of fining, nor of persecuting the people of Lorca for tax collection purposes. This is not the intention of this government team. We intend, fundamentally, to carry out a work of environmental adaptation, urban sustainability and social awareness, taking into account all the benefits of active mobility.”

All cities and towns in Spain with more than 50,000 inhabitants is required to implement a Low Emissions Zone to reduce pollution.

“For this reason, throughout this year we have been working on the project,” explained Councillor Hernández. “We have not only taken into account the legally established part, both at state and European level, but also the need for dissemination and information.”

This will include talks and roundtables with expert speakers to study the best use of traffic measures in the city, as well as citizen cooperation, meetings with local businesspeople, hotel owners, restaurant owners, taxi drivers, delivery drivers, cleaners and more.

“The objective is to efficiently organise the different modes of transport, promoting those that are more respectful of the environment,” pointed out the Councillor.

Essentially, there will be two clearly defined and delineated zones within Lorca’s ZBE: ‘Zone 1’ and ‘Zone 2’.

Zone 1 will be delimited by the following roads, where will be restricted access to cars:

Alameda Jiménez Díaz
Travesía de la Constitución
Plaza de Carruajes
Alameda de Menchirón
Calle de Santa Paula
Calle Príncipe Alfonso
Plaza del Negrito
Cuesta de San Francisco
Calle Alfonso X el Sabio
Calle Fernando el Santo
Calle Selgas
Calle Corregidor
Calle de la Zapatería
Camino de los Pozos
Calle del Gigante
Calle Puerta de Gines
Avenida Santa Clara
Calle Molins de Rei
Calle Saint Fono
Calle Miguel Ángel Blanco Garrido

Zone 2 includes an area of several educational, sports and health centres but where it will still be possible to drive without any sort of restrictions:

Alameda Rafael Méndez
Alameda José Fernández Corredor
Calle Poeta Para Vico
Calle Océano Pacifico
Calle Océano Atlántico
Alameda Doctor Gimeno Baduell

Air quality tests in Lorca show the city currently meets legal standards, with values generally low and compliant with long-term goals. Temporary spikes in PM10 particles, largely due to ‘calima’ Saharan dust, highlight the need for public awareness and gradual adaptation to improve air quality.

Sound tests revealed slightly elevated noise levels in certain areas, prompting the council to address this by enhancing sustainable transport options. Recent initiatives include new cycle lanes, safer routes near schools, improved accessibility and a new car park on Calle Periodista Ángela Ruiz.

In coming weeks, the city will install number plate-reading cameras linked to police systems and a platform to monitor traffic and optimise road use. By 2030, the ZBE will restrict high-emission vehicles without environmental badges (mainly older petrol and diesel models) unless they are driven by residents or parked in public lots within the zone.

Lorca aims to utilise its €3.2 million Next Generation EU grant to fully implement these measures.