The Floriana local council has deplored the Union Haddiema Maqghudin’s negative attitude regarding the introduction of a “necessary” controlled parking scheme as proposed by the council.

Mayor Publio Agius said the council had presented the proposal for this scheme to be introduced in the residential area way back in September, but the transport authority (ADT) called a meeting about it only last week and decided to involve union representatives in the matter.

The council’s proposal was to take up 500 of the 1,000 parking spaces in the residential zone to form part of the scheme, which would be controlled by way of a two-hour restriction for non-residents from Monday to Friday between 8am and 5pm.

Mr Agius said the council believed the much-needed scheme was very reasonable and it would not only benefit residents, but also the commercial community.

While he said he was unaware that unions were previously involved in discussions leading to the introduction of such schemes, the UHM also stood to gain from a controlled parking scheme in Floriana.

“Apart from the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises (GRTU), which is usually involved in discussions on such schemes, we are only aware that the unions were involved in certain localities in Gozo,” he said.

The mayor added that while GRTU has shown it was in favour of the scheme and looked forward to a quick introduction, UHM representatives interrupted his presentation constantly during a meeting held on Tuesday and they ended up leaving the room.

“I myself cannot understand what they are really against it, but I feel their attitude is disrespectful towards residents in particular,” he said. Although the ADT had also decided to involve General Workers’ Union representatives, they had not attended Tuesday’s meeting.

The local council will be calling another meeting with UHM to discuss the matter and try to resolve the issue as soon as possible, said Mr Agius.