The St Julian’s local council has sent a letter to all residents to announce the introduction of a new residents’ parking scheme which comes in just over a year after a similar attempt was shot down.
A similar scheme was introduced by the council in the run-up to last year’s local council elections in March, but it was shot down by the Malta Transport Authority which refused to issue a permit for it.
The scheme was greeted with much scepticism, drawing complaints from the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) and the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises – GRTU because it would hamper business.
The main complaint was that the original scheme was to be introduced with a maximum 90-minute parking limit for non-residents. This brought the wrath of both the MHRA, the GRTU and also the cinemas operators who contended that establishments in Paceville offered a service that was usually of a longer duration, meaning that patrons would have to get up in the middle of a meal or a film to go and move their cars.
Residents also objected on the grounds that the scheme split St Julian’s into three districts, meaning that if a person from the Gardens, for example, could not find a space near his or her home and found one in the heart of Paceville or St Julian’s, they could only park there for the stipulated 90-minute period.
Eventually, the signs were all removed.
However, in a letter sent to residents on 28 April, the St Julian’s local council announced that it was still committed to creating a residents’ parking scheme.
The new scheme covers all of Paceville and some ancillary roads including Triq Forrest, Triq Wied Ghomor, Triq il-Palm, Triq Ivo Muscat Azzopardi, Triq il-Mensija, Fuq il-Gonna, Triq il-Qaliet, Triq iz-Zebbug, Triq is-Sajjieda, Triq Luigi Apap, Triq it-Tamal and Triq Oleandru.
This time round, however, the council seems to have given ground to the establishments by increasing the time limit to 150 minutes rather than 90. This means that all non-resident vehicles must be moved to another free space within that time frame.
Between June and September (peak months) the scheme will be in effect daily between 5pm and 6am. Between October and May (shoulder months) the system will be active on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, feast days and their eves between 5pm and 6am.
The council has already put up signposts to indicate that the residents’ scheme is active. In addition, the council has issued residents with stickers which are to be stuck on windscreens so as to allow the identification of the said vehicles.
The council said that any residents that wish to apply for a resident’s permit must produce their vehicle’s log book and ID card. Those that are residents, but registered in another locality, must produce proof in the form of a contract or receipt to show that they are resident in the area. Those who hire a car are also obliged to produce proof of their situation.
Elderly residents who need assistance due to frail health can apply for permits for relatives or carers by producing a medical certificate, but only one permit for one vehicle will be issued.
The permits will be valid for one year and must be renewed. Residents can also apply for temporary one-day permits for visitors. To do so they must inform the council of the dates, registration numbers and the specific day of the week when they are needed. No permits may be transferred.
However, sources have said that while residents have only just started to apply for their permits (on specified dates according to address), it seems like the system is not being enforced.
The system requires a computer database to be able to cross-check data of parked vehicles, so it seems like the wardens will have to be drafted in to do the job because the police do not have a personalised computer system to be able to keep track of which vehicles are properly parked or not.