Restrictions still apply despite ADT warning

The St Julians local council is forging ahead with its controversial residents parking scheme despite being instructed by the Malta Transport Authority (ADT) to suspend it pending consultation with the business community.

Mayor Peter Bonello told The Times the scheme had not been suspended and it would remain in force on a trial basis for the next three weeks.

"The scheme is there to stay. However, we are open to suggestions and we are willing to discuss but everybody should keep in mind that the residents are not going to continue suffering," he insisted.

The scheme, introduced in St Julians last Friday, has sparked the ire of restaurateurs and businessmen in the area, who said this move would spell the death knell for their livelihood, as well as a number of residents.

The Malta Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises - GRTU wrote to ADT chairman Mark Portelli last week complaining that the council had "imposed" the 90-minute parking scheme for non-residents without prior consultation.

It insisted that local entrepreneurs intended to take all action at law to safeguard their rights and seek reimbursement of the damages their businesses suffered.

It also requested the ADT to issue intervention orders to hold the council from implementing the scheme.

The ADT replied to the GRTU on March 8 saying it had instructed the council to suspend the scheme pending consultation with the business community.

"One of the permit conditions required the council to consult with the local business community prior to introducing such a parking scheme," ADT spokesman Daniela Borg Mizzi said when contacted.

"From representations made by the GRTU it is apparent that the process of consultation has not yet been concluded. The authority agrees with the scheme, subject to compliance with the conditions of the permit," she added.

However, the parking scheme remains in force on a trial basis and motorists who break the parking restrictions will be issued with a warning ticket, but not a fine, over the next three weeks.

In the meantime, confusion reigns in the locality as residents and motorists alike question whether the scheme has been suspended or not.

Restaurant owner Peter Darmanin said the scheme would spell disaster for restaurants in the area because patrons would opt to go dine elsewhere.

"St Julians is a tourist centre and one of the main entertainment areas of Malta. I am not saying that residents should not have reserved parking spaces but a study should be carried out to determine which ones have a garage and which ones don't, among other issues. Apart from that, there are hardly any residents in St George's Road, so this, for example, should be left purely for those visiting the locality," he said.

Mr Darmanin also questioned how guests were expected to go to a restaurant and dine in 90 minutes flat.

Another restaurateur, Joseph Darmanin Demajo, echoed similar views and pointed out that businesses would now face further difficulties with staff, who would certainly have no intention of paying to park.

It is not just the businessmen who are upset at the system, residents too called The Times to express their concern at the fact that the scheme would stop them from inviting family and friends over because the scheme only allowed them to park for 90 minutes.

Residents complained that whoever visited - from the maid to the babysitter, to in-laws and friends - had nowhere to park.

"Next month I would like to organise a party for my daughter but I guess I can just forget it now because the guests will have nowhere to park," a resident from the Gardens said.

Many suggested that the scheme should not be introduced 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and instead be enforced at particular hours during the weekends when there was a huge influx of visitors to the area.

Another woman, who had organised a tea party for 20 friends over the weekend, said her guests had nowhere to park.

"Of course it's nice to have parking reserved for us since it's often a nightmare to find a free parking bay but it's important to strike a balance," she said.

When asked to comment on this, Mr Bonello said that residents were being encouraged to write in with their suggestions and concerns. "We do not want to suffocate businesses and we want to hear everyone's views, especially those of residents."