The municipal institution considers it unacceptable that the celebration of a sporting event continues without addressing the consequences its route generates for mobility and the local economy. This stance follows the rejection by the Cabildo de Lanzarote of two alternatives proposed by Haría to modify the circuit.
Haría had suggested concentrating road closures on the LZ-10 or moving the swimming segment to Arrieta to allow greater participation from the north of the island. Given the Cabildo's refusal, the City Council maintains that the current circuit cannot be kept without offering solutions that reduce the harm.
The mayor of Haría, Alfredo Villalba, stated that "Haría is not against sports or the celebration of the IRONMAN, but against a route that leaves our villages isolated for more than six hours and which they intend to maintain without considering the alternatives we have proposed." He emphasized that "defending this event cannot mean neglecting our residents."
The restrictions affect not only leisure travel but also commutes to work, family obligations, and access to businesses. The City Council warns of economic losses for the municipality's shops and restaurants, which experience limited customer access and difficulties for workers and suppliers, without specific compensation.
Villalba added that "one cannot speak of the benefits of an event for Lanzarote and ignore what happens in the villages that bear its greatest restrictions, because our shops and restaurants are also part of the island's economy." He insisted that "it is unreasonable to ask them to bear the consequences every year without changes to the route or measures to compensate for this impact."
The municipal government reiterates that, while participant safety must be guaranteed, this requirement should not close off the possibility of studying a different circuit design. Haría maintains its willingness to dialogue and calls on the Cabildo for a real review of the route, closure times, and access options to the villages.
