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Benidorm City Council meets with the residents of Poniente to clarify the doubts raised about the arrival of the Low Emissions Zone

Citizen Participation encourages residents to submit proposals for participatory budgets, whose deadline is open until May 30

Benidorm City Council held a meeting with residents of the Poniente area in which they expressed some demands and which also served to resolve existing doubts about the future entry into force of the Low Emissions Zone (ZBE). which includes the area of Armada Española Avenue.

This event took place at the request of the residents themselves within the weekly campaign 'At the foot of the street' and was attended by the councilors of Citizen Participation, Ana Pellicer; Mobility and Public Space, Francis Muñoz; and that of Parks and Gardens, José Ramón González de Zárate. In addition to the neighbors, the vice presidents of the Neighbourhood Council, Antonio Zamora and Francisco Martínez, attended.

Regarding the ZBE, residents have expressed their complaints about the fact that some vehicles do not respect the established speed limits. In that sense, Francis Muñoz has explained that this situation is “only temporary” and that once the ZBE is operational “only authorized vehicles will be able to enter, for which cameras will have already been installed to record the license plates.” Regarding speeding, the mayor recalled that "there are speedometers installed and anyone who speeds may receive a penalty."

Francis Muñoz has also specified that in October or November everything will be installed and in operation "and what we want now is for the neighbours to have as much information as possible and to convey the message that the ZBE is something positive for everyone."

Some neighbors have also requested that improvements be undertaken in some garden areas of the Elche Park and the Poniente promenade. At that point, the mayor of Parks and Gardens has advanced that “we already have the project completed and we are just waiting for the inspection to execute it.”

González de Zárate has indicated that the action will be “similar to what already exists in the entire area, but with improvements, in addition to improving the drip irrigation system that has some deficiencies among other interventions.”

For her part, the Councilor for Citizen Participation, Ana Pellicer, took advantage of the visit to encourage residents to present proposals for participatory budgets. “The deadline is open until May 30 and is a very useful tool to achieve the Benidorm model that we all want. We have indicated to them the possibilities that exist and, above all, that they know that all proposals and suggestions are welcome and that we will see them come true in a short time,” stated Pellicer. The councilor recalled that the City Council allocates at least 5% of the municipal investment budget each year for this chapter, which in this year amounts to 600,000 euros.

🌴 What’s On This Week – Costa Blanca

(Benidorm & surrounding areas)

Overview

This week across Benidorm, Altea, Albir, Finestrat, and La Nucía is mainly:

Weekly markets and street trading

Live music in bars and small venues

Early spring coastal tourism activity (boat trips, promenades)

Small cultural events and exhibitions

Gradual build-up toward May festivals in Benidorm

BENIDORM – Events and Activity

Markets and street life

Wednesday and Sunday main street markets (large general markets for clothing, food, and goods)
Old Town craft stalls operating in the evenings
Night markets becoming more active as tourist season builds

Cultural activity

Early preparations and signage for the Medieval Market coming soon in central Benidorm
Small pop-up performances in Old Town squares (musicians, street entertainment)

Nightlife and entertainment

Live music every night across the main strips (cover bands, tribute acts, karaoke)
DJ sets and bar entertainment increasing toward peak season
Rooftop bars and terrace venues reopening more consistently

Overall feel

Benidorm is in an active pre-summer phase with strong nightlife and steady tourist flow.

ALTEA – Cultural and coastal atmosphere

Old Town and culture
Art galleries and artisan shops open daily
Small exhibitions and cultural displays in local venues

Live music

Acoustic and low-key live music in bars around Old Town and seafront areas
Occasional weekend performances in Irish and cocktail bars

Sea activities

Boat trips operating from Altea harbour including:
Coastal cruises
Sunset sailing trips
Swimming stops depending on weather conditions

Overall feel

Quiet, scenic, and cultural with a strong focus on relaxation rather than nightlife.

ALBIR / ALFÀS DEL PI – Mixed expat and local activity

Markets

Friday weekly street market with food, clothing, and household goods
Nearby Sunday markets in Altea also attract visitors from the area

Live music

Regular pub and bar entertainment, especially in Irish and rock-themed venues
Weekly live bands and acoustic performances across multiple venues

Cultural venues

Casa de Cultura hosting small theatre events, exhibitions, and community activities
Regular local group meetings and social clubs

Overall feel

Balanced area with both relaxed daytime atmosphere and active evenings.

LA NUCÍA – Local and sporting focus

Markets

Sunday rastro (large flea market with antiques, tools, clothes, and food stalls)
Entertainment
Occasional live music in local bars, mostly weekends

Sports activity

Large sports complex hosting training camps, tournaments, and weekend events

Overall feel

Quiet residential town with activity concentrated around weekends and sports events.

FINESTRAT – Beach and market lifestyle

Markets

Tuesday and Saturday markets in La Cala area with a mix of local produce and goods

Beachfront activity

Beach bars and restaurants increasingly open in the evenings
Sunset dining season beginning again

Entertainment

Low-key live music in beachfront bars rather than organised events

Overall feel

Relaxed coastal town focused on beach life and casual evenings.

OVERALL SUMMARY

Benidorm: busiest area with nightlife, markets, and entertainment

Altea: cultural, scenic, and relaxed

Albir / Alfàs del Pi: balanced mix of live music and expat social life

La Nucía: local, quiet, and sports-focused

Finestrat: beach-oriented and low-key

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Benidorm City Council meets with the residents of Poniente to clarify the doubts raised about the arrival of the Low Emissions Zone

🌴 What’s On This Week – Costa Blanca

(Benidorm & surrounding areas)

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