Last week we set the ball rolling on a campaign against the 60-minute parking restriction, whereby residents are given illegal jurisdiction over the streets they live in, with the blessing of the local council, while securing the latter a pay-back in terms of revenue from fines throughout the year and votes at election time.

If you agree with Antoine Ellul and Mario Zammit who set the ball rolling on this campaign, it is up to you consumers, to write to me. On my part, I have made a commitment to co-operate with Mr Ellul and Mr Zammit.

It is of utmost importance for readers to send letters so that we will be able to feature a letter every week, just like the three campaigns we ran to fight for the inclusion of the 'best before date' on milk cartons, the removal of names and addresses from windscreen licence disks, and the removal of the satellite dish tax.

Here is our second letter sent in by Neil Dent:

'I cannot agree more with the sentiments aired by Mr Ellul and Mr Zammit (The Sunday Times, April 13), on the growing problem of unjust parking restrictions on public streets. Although I have not sought adequate advice, I would go so far as to question the legality of this now widespread trend. A campaign for abolishment would be greatly welcome.

'One of the more recent instances of this grossly unfair (mal)practice is that of the Ta' Xbiex housing estate, on either side of Princess Margaret Street. The typical 'residents only/60mins restriction' signs mushroomed on each street corner in the area practically overnight.

'This happened just before the general election which, funnily enough, coincided with the Ta' Xbiex council election. But surely in 2008 political timing is no longer a factor, is it?

'In a heavily populated residential area such as Msida, Ta' Xbiex and nearby Gzira, where apartment blocks are the order of the day, this imposition is absolutely unacceptable. Having such a high number of private dwellings concentrated in any area, naturally means a high number of private cars and other vehicles on the streets. There are simply not enough parking spaces to go around.

'I live not more than 50 metres from one section of the housing estate and have often had to spend many minutes (even 20-30 minutes) driving around in circles hoping for a space to become free, even before my parking options were further restricted by Ta' Xbiex council's blinkered and unfair act.

'Unfortunately for me, I live just over on the Msida side of the boundary with Ta' Xbiex, which eliminates any possibility of me gaining a 'residents' permit' to be able to park literally just up the road.

'Fortunately for the estate residents, on the other hand, not only do they have the luxury of their own quasi-reserved parking bays, but just in case they do not manage to find one of 'their' spots, maybe they can find one in front of my apartment block! There is no penalty for parking there, regardless of your home town. It may only add to the frustrations of us less privileged road-tax payers who happen to be residents there!

'As a very learned man once said, some of us supposed 'equals' are quite definitely born 'more equal than others'. This is certainly the case in my little corner of Malta.'

Readers must write in and express their views on this issue. Our policy on such campaigns is to feature a letter every week until the body involved co-operates.