In order to ensure rotation in access to businesses, the municipality of Arouca has announced that paid parking in the core of the city will now have varying opening hours based on the street and the demand it creates. The changes are part of the recently adopted City Council rule, which will keep street parking fees at just €0,30 per hour and donate any extra revenue to social institutions.

As Margarida Belém, Arouca’s municipality president has told Lusa “The changes now made to the regulations make it possible to set different times on certain sections, where there is greater or lesser demand for parking, and this implies that drivers start to pay more attention to signage and do not assume that the payment period is the same in all streets”. According to the president, the regulatory change, which is yet to be submitted to vote at the Arouca’s Municipal Assembly, should be implemented by the end of next May.

The goal is to ensure “that there are always free spaces for those who wish to go to the shops and services of Arouca, located primarily in the historic centre of the town and the surrounding streets," by adjusting the amount of parking available on particular streets to the demand they generate at particular times of the week. Since "the 'Via Verde Parking' service had been available since July last year without it being included in the document" the socialist mayor claims that the amendments made to the document that governs Arouca parking will also include a formal reference to electronic payment methods.

There are 300 spaces in the town's parking area, which is currently limited to three hours. Payment options include cash, and the Via Verde phone application, which does not require change and lets you extend payments remotely. Moreover, the requirements to access the resident card, which exempts residents from paying during lunch, for example, and the fines for improper parking, which range from €30 to €150 according to the Highway Code, are additional changes to the 290 regular parking spaces and 10 for individuals with disabilities.