ROME, JUNE 30 - Thousands of people protested yesterday in Madrid against the decision of the newly elected mayor to lift the ban on car circulation in the city center to reduce gas emissions. The BBC reports this online. The ban was introduced last November by the former left-wing mayor with fines of up to 90 euros imposed on violators. However, the mayor of the Popular Party, José Luis MartÃnez-Almeida, elected on June 15 last, removed the ban.
Despite the scorching temperatures, the demonstrators flooded the streets of the capital to ask Almeida to re-introduce the ban, known as 'Madrid central' and which covered an area of 5 square kilometers where cars were forbidden to enter. The Madrid plan mirrored that of other European cities such as London, Stockholm and Milan, whose governments are increasing their efforts to combat pollution.