PSOE criticises delays in tendering the new Blue-Zone Parking and vehicle recovery contract
Miguel Soldevila calls on the mayor to put an end to the current standstill, pointing out that the contract has been expired since June 2025
The Socialist Municipal Group has once again denounced what it describes as the “inaction” and “paralysis” of the People’s Party (PP) administration in managing essential public service contracts in the city. This time, Miguel Soldevila, the councillor responsible for scrutinising the Mobility Department, has criticised Toni Pérez’s government for failing to put out to tender the new contract for regulated parking management, which has been expired since June 2025. The new contract will cover blue-zone parking, the other regulated parking zones and the municipal vehicle recovery service.
Soldevila stressed that the local government’s “inefficiency” has left the contract expired, “perpetuating an outdated model that directly harms Benidorm’s residents, businesses and visitors”.
“This unjustified delay not only prevents Benidorm from having a more efficient service that benefits residents and visitors, but also rewards a company that continues to provide the service until the new contract is awarded, despite serious breaches having been identified. These breaches initially led the City Council to terminate the contract, only for it to subsequently reverse that decision,” he said.
In this regard, the councillor recalled that, following years without proper oversight, the City Council identified and documented several alleged breaches. These included charging higher fees than permitted; failing to report additional revenue collected through purported management fees that had not been approved; reducing the staff assigned to the contract without municipal authorisation; discontinuing technical support; failing to maintain a public-facing office on a street with regulated parking; operating an ATM that does not dispense cash; and lacking basic office equipment and supplies.
The Socialist councillor also argued that the situation surrounding this contract once again highlights what he described as the PP’s “disastrous management, characterised by a lack of foresight and little willingness to work”.
“Despite our repeated warnings and the numerous announcements made by the PP, they have once again failed to act in time, and we are still without a new contract. Mr Pérez would rather engage in self-promotion and photo opportunities than sit down at his desk and work to solve the real problems facing residents,” he said.
Soldevila called on the governing team to stop making excuses, complete the tender specifications without further delay and launch the procurement process for the new contract.
“Benidorm cannot continue operating with expired contracts or services being provided under precarious arrangements in essential areas such as street cleaning, traffic lights and street lighting, or blue-zone parking, because of Toni Pérez’s inability to manage them,” he concluded.