Extended pavements in Bugibba

I have been living in Bugibba for the last 10 months and the parking problem has been worsening daily, now even more so with the extended pavements that the St Paul's Bay council has been approving for restaurants and bars.

I contacted MEPA's enforcement section and they didn't even know what was happening so they began to investigate immediately.

It is so unfair on residents: sometimes I drive around the area for 30 minutes looking for a parking space, to no avail. I don't think that the council realises that in summer the population of Bugibba/ Qawra increases to three times that of winter, and this excludes the people who come here for the evening.

The extended pavements also pose a danger to pedestrians who have to walk in the road because the pavement is blocked by tables and chairs.

This is simply unacceptable: on one hand MEPA allows developers to pay for the Commuted Parking Payment Scheme (CPPS) if they don't provide parking and the money is supposed to be used to improve parking in the area; and on the other hand, the local council removes the parking spaces!