Congestion charge “ruled out” for the time being

WITH municipal elections less than nine months away, Mayor Catalina Cirer was quick to say that she was not considering a congestion charge for traffic entering Palma “neither in the short term, nor during this legislature.” However, she added that it was a measure which “many cities will have to consider in the future.” As reported in yesterday's Bulletin, Spain's ruling PSOE (Socialist Party) intends to introduce congestion charges for the country's big cities in its local election manifesto next year. Cirer said “it could be a project for the future,” but for the time being it is “ruled out in Palma,” as the council has a mobility plan which has not yet been fully applied. Measures in the mobility plan include the network of car parks which is under construction and improved public transport. But, she added, the congestion charge “will not be tackled by this council team.”