Special performance is part of the 15th edition of the Festival Internacional de Música de Otoño
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A British couple living in Benidorm have formally challenged proposed mobility scooter restrictions, warning that they could lose an important part of their independence if the new rules do not account for people with disabilities.

A & A, who have lived in Spain for 20 years, have written to Mayor Toni Perez and town councillors after Benidorm approved an amendment to its Municipal Mobility Ordinance that would prohibit mobility scooters and powered chairs designed to carry more than one person.

Their objection comes as the council prepares to open a further 30-working-day public consultation before the proposed changes can receive final approval and enter into force.

British couple fear losing access to essential services

A & A have lived in Benidorm for seven years. Their circumstances changed dramatically this year following serious health problems that left both struggling to walk. They can now walk only with the help of a rollator. One suffered acute pancreatitis, which also substantially reduced their mobility.

The couple say they spent almost €4,000 on a two-seat electric mobility scooter, which now allows them to travel to local shops and the pharmacy. Steep inclines around their neighbourhood make getting around on foot particularly difficult. Without their scooter, they fear that even everyday errands could become much harder.

Why Benidorm wants to restrict tandem scooters

Benidorm Council approved the initial amendment to its mobility rules unanimously on October 26. Officials say the changes are intended to improve pedestrian safety and prevent multi-seat mobility vehicles from being used as recreational transport in busy public areas. The proposal follows earlier efforts to tackle misuse, including the police crackdown on holidaymakers using mobility scooters reported earlier this year, and goes together with broader national updates under Royal Decree 518/2026 on the protection of vulnerable road users.

Mobility Councillor Francis Muñoz has stressed that the measure is not intended to restrict people who genuinely need mobility assistance. However, the proposed wording prohibiting vehicles designed to carry more than one person has raised questions about how residents with legitimate needs will be treated. Euro Weekly News reported on the initial approval of the tandem scooter restrictions last week.

A & A argue that the council should distinguish between tourists hiring tandem scooters for leisure and people who depend on these vehicles because of health problems.

Their objection suggests that restricting rental businesses, rather than prohibiting every multi-seat model, could be one way to address complaints about misuse without affecting disabled residents.

Could Benidorm introduce exemptions?

The couple have asked councillors to consider a permit or identification system for residents who can demonstrate genuine mobility difficulties. Such an arrangement could, in principle, help the local police distinguish between people using a scooter as a necessary mobility aid and those using it for convenience or entertainment.

However, no specific exemption for tandem scooters used by disabled residents has been confirmed in the council’s published announcement. Benidorm has previously been recognised for accessibility efforts, including being named Spain’s most accessible city and expanding beach access for people with reduced mobility.

Whether such an arrangement would be legally or practically possible is therefore a question for the council to address during the consultation.

A & A have also raised the possibility of seeking compensation if they are forced to give up their scooter. This is a concern they have expressed, rather than an established entitlement to compensation.

What is likely to happen next?

The proposed amendment must pass through a further 30-working-day public consultation before the council can proceed to final approval and entry into force. That period gives affected residents an opportunity to raise concerns and ask councillors to consider their circumstances before the rules are finalised.

Key questions include whether exemptions could be introduced for people with demonstrable mobility needs, whether a permit system could work and whether restrictions on rental businesses could tackle irresponsible use without penalising disabled residents.

For A & A, the issue is about much more than a €4,000 purchase. Their scooter helps them reach essential services despite serious health difficulties.

Their case puts a practical question before Benidorm’s councillors: how can the town improve pedestrian safety without taking away a means of independence from residents who genuinely need it?

Gata de Gorgos is set for a major railway upgrade, with plans to renovate its historic station and reopen two level crossings as part of efforts to improve safety and transport links through the Costa Blanca town.

The local council and Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana (FGV), the regional railway operator, have agreed on a timetable for the improvements, with the first works expected to begin taking shape in 2027.

The plans aim to make the TRAM railway line safer for pedestrians and motorists while improving its integration into the town centre.

Railway crossings set to reopen

The project to adapt the railway line to a more urban tram-style system will be carried out in two phases.

The first phase is expected to be completed in 2027 and will focus on reopening two level crossings that are currently closed.

The crossing at Miralbons will be reopened exclusively for pedestrians, while the crossing on Calle Jesús Pobre will be accessible to both pedestrians and vehicles.

Traffic lights will be installed at both locations to improve safety where road users and pedestrians cross the railway.

The changes are intended to improve movement around Gata de Gorgos while allowing the railway to operate more safely alongside everyday traffic.

The second phase will cover the remaining urban stretch, from Calle Jesús Pobre to the point where the railway leaves the town.

However, this stage will take longer because it requires further administrative procedures and a new technical project incorporating the planned improvements along the route.

Historic station renovation planned for 2027

Alongside the crossing improvements, FGV is preparing to move forward with the comprehensive renovation of Gata de Gorgos railway station.

The original project is currently being revised, with the regional operator expecting both the tendering process and the start of construction to take place during 2027.

The station forms part of the TRAM d’Alacant network, which connects destinations across the province of Alicante, including Dénia and Benidorm.

The latest agreement follows a meeting between Gata de Gorgos councillor for urban planning and management Josep Signes Costa, municipal technicians and an FGV delegation led by managing director Alfonso Novo.

The discussions were held to coordinate the next steps for both projects and establish a timetable for their delivery.

While the station renovation and railway changes will progress separately, both form part of a wider effort to modernise local transport infrastructure and improve the relationship between the railway and the surrounding urban environment.