The Capdepera Town Council has launched this week an area of parking reserved exclusively for residents in the old town, a long-awaited measure that aims to reduce vehicle pressure and improve quality of life.
The Plaça del Sitjar and the adjacent streets of the historic centre of Capdepera are no longer a free-for-all for any driver. From this week, only registered residents in the area can park there, thanks to the new parking regulation ordinance that has just come into effect. This measure, which had been on the table for a decade without progress, has been revived with a more dialogue-oriented approach and has finally reached the streets.
A plan that matured over ten years
The idea of creating a reserved parking area is not new. In fact, the Pla Especial de Reforma Interior (PERI) del Castell already included it, but strong opposition from residents and merchants kept it shelved for years. Now, the governing team led by Mayor Núria Garcia has managed to agree on a text that, according to municipal sources, "addresses the concerns of all parties." The ordinance was approved in November, but its implementation was delayed due to technical issues.
Affected streets and exceptions
The streets included in the new regulated area are Major, Goya, Pla d’en Coset, Fondo, Plaça Sitjar and Plaça Vella. Throughout this perimeter, the passage of vehicles remains allowed, but parking is reserved for residents, who must display a visible badge on their car. However, there are exceptions: essential and emergency services, accredited persons with reduced mobility, and vehicles with temporary authorisation for works or moves can also park.
Preserving heritage, improving life
Mayor Garcia has explained that the main objective is "to preserve heritage and improve the quality of life for residents." In statements to this newspaper, she emphasised that the measure "responds to a real need of the residents and helps us better organise public space, facilitating daily life for citizens." The pressure from cars in the old town was a chronic problem, especially during peak season, when the flow of visitors saturated the squares.
Towards a sustainable mobility plan
The Town Council is not stopping with this ordinance. As the mayor has revealed, during this 2026, fieldwork is being carried out for a sustainable mobility plan that will soon offer "concrete proposals to move towards a model more focused on people." Additionally, there is no plan to rule out expanding resident zones to other parts of the municipality, "always with technical criteria and considering the balance of different needs," Garcia clarified.
For now, residents of the historic centre can breathe a little easier. Knowing they will find a parking spot upon returning home is a luxury that, in Capdepera, has just become a reality. And all without the need for endless circling or fighting for a space.
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