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Date Published: 06/03/2023

ARCHIVED - Malaga begins implementing Low Emission Zones

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Torremolinos and Estepona have made the most progress while Benalmádena is lagging behind

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Malaga begins implementing Low Emission Zones

The authorities in town halls across Malaga are working at full pelt to implement their Low Emission Zones (ZBEs) as quickly as possible and at the moment, Torremolinos and Estepona are streets ahead of the other municipalities.

At the end of last year, the Spanish government announced that all areas with more than 50,000 inhabitants would have to adopt urban mobility sustainability plans and while in theory this was supposed to be done “before 2023”, most regions are dragging their heels.

In the province of Malaga, Marbella, Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Estepona, Torremolinos and Vélez-Málaga will all have to introduce ZBE where traffic will be restricted or limited.

Here’s how those plans are coming along.

Torremolinos

Torremolinos has made the most progress so far and has already tendered the installation of the cameras and sensors that will monitor air quality, as well as beginning work on its Low Emission Zone signs.

The ZBE in Torremolinos will run between Calle Río Bergantes, Los Manantiales, Isabel Manoja and Palma de Mallorca avenues, Costa del Sol square and Celle Hoyo, although the council has warned that this area could be extended in the future.

According to the Councillor for European Resources and Urban Agenda, María Heredia, the zone will measure “about 125,000 square metres” and only vehicles with “ECO, C and B and ZERO labels" will be permitted. The Low Emission Zone aims to reduce emissions by 40% in the downtown area and should be up and running by the summer.

Estepona

In Estepona, the plans for the ZBE have been made public and people can object until March 13. The zone will cover around 60 hectares, most of the historic centre of the city, and will be delimited by Andalucía avenue, celles Tajo and Pilar de Farinós, San Lorenzo avenue and the coastal front.

Its implementation will be done in phases, the first being 0, which will be launched this year "without restrictions for residents.”

Phase 1, which will begin in 2024, specifies that "vehicles belonging to non-residents and/or registered vehicles without an environmental badge will have some restrictions", while phase 2 will be applied during 2025, when "the entire ZBE will be delimited and signposted".

At this point, "there will be no restrictions for residents, but there will be for vehicles that do not have the Zero Emissions or Eco badge."

Vélez-Málaga

The areas for the Low Emission Zone in Vélez-Málaga have already been established and will include 477,000 square metres of the city centre and 227,000 square metres of Torre del Mar.

The project is in the “approval phase” and the council plans to "execute it before January 2024."

To further reduce emissions, several “pedestrianisation” projects are underway in Plaza de Las Carmelitas in Vélez and Calle del Mar and Plaza Axarquía in Torre del Mar.

The tram will also be back up and running before too long.

Marbella

In Marbella, the regulations are still in the drafting phase but the City Council has assured that it will avoid “a total restriction of mobility” in its ZBEs.

Instead, sustainable mobility will be encouraged with free public transport initiatives, the pedestrianisation of central streets and more bike and electric scooter lanes.

The mayor has indicated that Marbella city centre has no problems with air quality at the moment.

Benalmádena

The municipality of Benalmádena is probably the furthest behind and a location for the Low Emission Zone hasn’t been decided yet.

Last year, a pilot project ruled out Antonio Machado avenue and the council was forced to go back to the drawing board.

Fuengirola

In 2021, Fuengirola City Council presented an initiative for the implementation of the ZBE that included pedestrianisation and traffic restrictions in three areas of the city and it’s currently working to get a "similar project" approved by the Ministry.

The implementation deadline for the Low Emission Zone will now depend on when this project will be approved but in the meantime, the city council is trying to reduce emissions by running a free urban bus service for residents that features eight hybrid vehicles.

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