Drivers in Elche no longer have to pay for blue zone parking in the afternoons after the city introduced its summer ORA timetable.
The new hours came into effect on Wednesday July 15 and will remain in place until July 31.
What are the new ORA hours?
Until the end of July, paid parking in the blue zones only applies from 09:00 to 13:00, Monday to Friday.
Parking is now free every afternoon, while Saturdays are free all day.
Elche: Free parking throughout August
The reduced timetable is a lead-in to the usual August arrangement.
From August 1 to August 31, blue zone parking will be completely free, with no charges either in the morning or the afternoon.
Why has the timetable changed?
Elche Town Hall says the measure responds to requests from residents and local businesses.
The aim is to make it easier for people to visit the city centre during the summer and encourage shopping and spending in local businesses.
The scheme is being introduced in collaboration with the municipal company Pimesa. The council says it will not increase the cost of running the service, although it will reduce parking revenue compared with previous years.
The summer timetable also reflects the lower level of traffic and activity usually seen during summer afternoons, making it easier for people to park while shopping or running errands in the city centre.
