Dozens of abandoned cars taking up parking spaces in South Tenerife
The Socialist Party in the municipality of Arona in south Tenerife (PSOE) has raised the alarm over what it describes as a serious deterioration in living conditions in El Fraile, where more than 40 abandoned vehicles are currently scattered throughout the neighbourhood. According to the party, the accumulation of wrecked, rusting, and dismantled cars has become a major problem for public safety, urban appearance and the availability of parking.
During a recent visit to the area, PSOE spokesperson José Julián Mena and councillor Ruth Lorenzo said they witnessed entire streets where damaged vehicles had been left to rot, filled with rubbish and occupying parking spaces for months at a time. They said that residents have repeatedly expressed their frustration at what they see as prolonged neglect of the neighbourhood.
The party highlights that this issue is not new and was discussed previously in a council meeting, where the PSOE proposed improving the management of the municipal tow yard and speeding up the removal of abandoned vehicles. However, the proposal was rejected by Arona’s PP–CC–Vox government, but they have not provided an effective solution.
According to the Socialists, removals currently take place only on main roads or in areas used for events and fiestas, while the rest of the neighbourhood receives little follow-up from the Local Police or the municipal tow service. As a result, more and more abandoned cars remain unused for months, often without insurance or technical inspection, missing wheels or left propped up on blocks.
“This is not an isolated issue,” said councillor Ruth Lorenzo. “It is happening in many areas of Arona, and the government neither plans nor acts. It is a clear example of their inaction in matters of traffic and road safety,” she added.
Mena also recalled that during his time in government, Arona had prepared and authorised a project to install 16 fixed CCTV cameras in El Fraile to improve safety, deter vandalism, and help monitor abandoned vehicles. However, he says the project has now been put on hold for two years under the administration led by Fátima Lemes, with no explanations offered to residents.
“The lack of planning and the passivity of the PP–CC–Vox government are turning this into a structural problem,” Mena warned. “El Fraile and the rest of Arona’s neighbourhoods cannot continue waiting while the municipality’s image and safety deteriorate.”
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