Elche closes 300-car airport car park as crackdown continues

The City Council of Elche has closed a 300-car parking lot in Balsares and is seeking legal approval to shut a second site in El Altet, as part of its ongoing crackdown on parking businesses near Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport. The closures impact a total area of approximately 10,000 square meters. The Balsares business must cease operations immediately, and its owners have a 15-day window to remove any remaining vehicles.

No new vehicles can be accepted, and commercial activity is prohibited within the premises. The El Altet site, which can hold around 200 cars, is associated with a private residence; the council claims its owners have denied access to local police. Inspections will be conducted to verify vehicle presence and initiate the necessary legal procedures for property inspection.

Four parking businesses have been shut down so far, with proceedings underway to close a fifth. Over 4,000 vehicles have been housed at the affected sites. Mayor Pablo Ruz stated in September that up to ten sites near the airport could be closed by year-end. The council issued 46 regularization orders, granting operators three months to provide evidence that their businesses complied with the necessary conditions.

This action followed inspections by local police and municipal engineers. Between April and May, the council identified 110 sites covering about 100 hectares in the Camp d’Elx area. Approximately 81 inspections had been completed by the end of June. Ruz noted that all sites exhibited some form of administrative irregularity, although the legal situations varied.

Around 30 sites had provisional licenses dating back to 2005, currently under review. The council assesses each case individually. After inspections, operators must submit a description of their activity and a technical certificate confirming compliance. Following review and response, the council determines the appropriate action, including closure for non-compliance.

This issue has persisted for over two decades. In 2003, the council permitted certain businesses to operate on non-developable land near the airport, under specific conditions, to accommodate demand from terminal users. A 2019 municipal report highlighted that this practice resulted in uncontrolled occupation and negative impacts on the surrounding area.

Residents have consistently expressed concerns over the proliferation of these lots. On April 23, the governing board approved a motion to prevent new airport-area parking facilities from opening while the council revises its General Urban Development Plan. The current 1998 plan does not explicitly permit parking on non-urbanisable land to be eligible for a Declaration of Community Interest.

The proposed amendment aims to determine where parking may be allowed and establish conditions to safeguard the area's landscape and environment.