Parking rates in some of Palma's under ground car parks are set to rise substantially , despite all of the city council's opposition parties voting against the move yesterday. In accordance with the new rates, drivers will have to pay a minimum of 155 pesetas per hour and 80 pesetas per half hour, for underground parking. The rate increases will apply to the car parks under the Plaza Mayor, the Paseo Mallorca, Plaza del Comtat de Rossello, Bisbe Berenguer de Palou, Parc de la Mar and the Avenidas. With regard to parking at Olivar Market, the increases will only apply during the first two hours of the market and the afternoons. Confusing matters even more, the city council said that from the start of next year, an hour's parking will cost one Euro and 30 minutes underground will cost half a Euro - suggesting a further increase as one Euro is worth 166.386 Pesetas. Opposition councillors yesterday tabled a motion that 15-minute parking tariffs be introduced for drivers in a hurry who have no time to waste trying to find street parking. The United Left party, while not completely opposed to the increases, said that too little is being done to solve the capital's traffic problems and that global alternatives need to be considered to solve traffic congestion and the lack of parking. The city council also came under attack over the lack of sufficient lighting, information signs, and access for the disabled in the city's underground car parks, which United Left councillor Ferran Trujillo said were dirty.
Palma parking to cost a Euro per hour next year