Residents in Pollensa have launched a petition calling on the town hall to create parking zones exclusively for residents.
Finding parking in Pollensa, especially during the tourism season, can be difficult. There is a lack of parking spaces, a situation exacerbated by tourist pressure, markets and various events. The group behind the petition says "this affects us all", as it has a direct impact on quality of life and community life.
The town hall is therefore being urged to study the implementation of designated resident parking zones and other measures such as time restrictions for non-resident vehicles, the creation of specific permits or identification cards as well as increased surveillance.
There is also criticism of the condition of car parks. Unsurfaced, they can become mud baths when it rains. For residents, they are symptomatic of a lack of real alternatives.
The mayor, Martí March, says the town hall is working on a project to improve these parking areas. As to the possibility of creating parking spaces exclusively for residents, he adds that this is an option that "needs to be studied"; it will be taken into account.
Parking for residents is not a problem confined to Pollensa by any means. There are examples in Mallorca of restricted parking access, Palma for instance, while Soller now has 1,000 parking spaces exclusively for residents in the town centre. Valldemossa has a car park specifically for residents.