The Cabinet has decided that the proposed Park and Ride Scheme at Blata l-Bajda is to be free of charge. As a counter measure, the payment for Controlled Vehicle Access to Valletta has risen from the proposed 30c to 35c per hour, Roads and Urban Development Minister Jesmond Mugliett said yesterday.

Speaking at a press conference to announce the government’s decision on the white paper, “Better Access to Valletta”, Minister Mugliett said that the tender for the Park and Ride Scheme will not be awarded but the service will be operated by the Malta Transport Authority, using staff from Industrial Projects and Services Ltd. to drive the vehicles.

The minister also revealed that the government has decided that the vehicles to be used for the Park and Ride service will be normal fuel powered ones but will possibly include energy saving measures such as running on bio-diesel. He explained that there will be a system of lifts operating from Customs House to the area known as Yellow Garage and eventually to Freedom Square, with an emphasis on vertical connectivity.

Minister Mugliett explained that the current vehicle license for entry into Valletta will be abolished and this will be turned into a pay per use system operating as follows:

First 30 minutes free of charge; from 31-60 minutes 35c and 35c for every other hour up to a maximum of Lm 2.80 per day. These fees are valid for office hours on weekdays up to 6pm, Saturdays from 9am to 1pm with Sunday free of charge, the minister added.

Exceptions include residents, motor cycles and other vehicles providing essential services.

The minister said that Floriana has been excluded from the scheme. This was against the government’s wishes but the local council had decided against participation. He said that this will inevitably increase pressure on the parking space in Floriana, with an increase in pollution levels for the suburb.

Minister Mugliett said that the Park and Ride scheme was expected to start operating by October with the abolition of the V-licence in January 2007. He said that the scheme was expected to provide 950 car spaces and this could be further increased if necessary.

Investments, Industry and IT Minister Austin Gatt said that the government had taken on board all suggestions on the White Paper but had finally come to a political decision which needed to be taken.

He said that the Cabinet had decided to make pedestrianisation a priority to ease the congestion and inconvenience for residents of Valletta and at the same time, making the capital more accessible for visitors and the business community.

Minister Gatt said that there was universal agreement among those consulted that one had to reduce congestion in the city and that some form of mass transport system should be established. He said that the only opposition against moving the Flea Market in Merchant’s Street was made by a number of stall owners but this will eventually be moved further down the road as the area in front of the Market will be inaccessible to vehicles.

Resources and Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit explained that several parts of Valletta would be pedestrianised over a four-five year period. He said that the first project would be the area next to St John’s Co-Cathedral and work was expected to start in September. Other areas to be converted into pedestrian zones include Castille Square and St George’s Square.

Environment and Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino said that historic buildings were seriously affected by the smog and dirt coming from car exhaust. He said that the levels of Nitrogen Dioxide in St Anne Street reached 73 milligrams per cubic metre in 2005, which was way above the 40mg average in the EU.

The minister revealed that the area close to the Ta’ Braxia Cemetery behind Gattard House in Blata l-Bajda would cease to be used for parking and would eventually be rehabilitated as a green area.