The Floriana Local Council has undertaken its own study on traffic management, and is ready to present a proposal for a new parking scheme to government.

If the proposal is accepted, non-residents will only be able to park for two hours in certain parts of Floriana. Residents and shopkeepers will be exempt from the scheme, which is only envisaged to come into force in the Balzunetta and Grand Harbour residential areas. Other parts of Floriana, including the Granaries, St Francis Ravelin and other non-residential areas, will fall outside the proposed scheme.

The council said it will also make sure that free parking will remain available to Sir Paul Boffa Hospital patients and visitors.

Floriana Mayor Publio Agius announced the proposal during a press conference yesterday. He said that the council’s appeals for meeting with Ministers Austin Gatt and Jesmond Mugliett proved futile, so it decided to conduct its own study on traffic management in Floriana. The exercise was conducted according to the terms of reference given last year by the Malta Transport Authority (ADT).

Mr Agius urged government to adopt the Floriana system before the Park and Ride scheme comes into effect, so as to avoid unnecessary contraventions and to facilitate the transition to Park and Ride.