Afedeco appeals the expansion of the ORA: "Commerce cannot find out when the decision has already been made"

PalmaThe Federation of Business Owners of the Balearic Islands (Afedeco) has filed an appeal for reconsideration against the expansion and reorganization of the ORA in Palma within the scope of the Low Emission Zone (ZBE). The entity demands the suspension of the measures, scheduled for January 1, 2027, because it considers that the reduction of short-stay parking spaces could harm the commercial activity of the center.

According to the documentation analyzed by the federation, the new configuration will convert 1,027 rotation spaces into spaces for residents. This would reduce the spaces available for customers, visitors, and non-resident individuals in the three central sectors from 1,247 to 220, a decrease of 82.4%. The spaces would not physically disappear, but rather move to a different usage regime.

"Businesses cannot find out how access to their environment will change when the decision has already been made," stated the president of Afedeco, Joana Manresa, who demands more transparency and participation from the affected sectors before implementing a measure of this magnitude.

They demand a study on the commercial impact

Afedeco considers that the municipal documentation does not provide a specific assessment of the consequences that the reduction of spaces may have on the influx of customers, sales, employment, services, and the delivery of goods. Therefore, it requests that the impact on commerce be studied before the new configuration comes into effect.

"Before applying a measure that reduces rotation spaces by more than 80%, it is necessary to know what impact it will have," argued Manresa. The federation also demands updated data on the availability, occupancy, prices, and schedules of public and dissuasive parking lots, as well as on the capacity of public transport to absorb part of the displacements.

The entity considers that the mere existence of alternative parking does not guarantee that they will be sufficient. It asks to know how many spaces they have available, at what distance they are from the center, and what connections they offer, especially for people who need to arrive by vehicle.

They request a review of the affected positions

One of the points that most concerns the federation is the situation of sector 1.3, which would be left without ORA rotation parking spaces. Sectors 1.1 and 1.2 would also experience a significant reduction.

For this reason, Afedeco demands that the plans and annexes be published to allow for the identification of the 1,027 spaces that will change regime and the 220 that will maintain rotation. It also requests the establishment of a technical and sectoral roundtable to open a dialogue process with commercial organizations and other affected groups.

The appeal also questions the incorporation of Son Oliva and Son Fortesa Sud into the ORA expansion. Afedeco demands that the technical conditions of this extension be justified and that its combined effect with the reduction of rotation spaces in the center be evaluated, since, according to the federation, both measures could modify the same commutes and increase pressure on parking.

Therefore, the entity requests that the municipal resolution be rendered ineffective and that the procedure be resumed to complete the studies, documentation, and participation of the affected sectors. Subsidiarily, it demands a review of the sections it questions.

Afedeco asserts that it does not want to pit the needs of residents against those of commerce, but maintains that sustainable mobility must be compatible with the economic activity of the center. "A sustainable city must also be accessible and have local commerce capable of continuing to function," concluded Manresa.