The Malta Transport Authority yesterday conceded that there was need for motorists and commuters to change their ways in getting into Valletta, but added they were confident the situation would settle down soon.

The personal assistant to the ADT CEO, Conrad Pule said: “However, the system itself is working perfectly. We do not have any figures as yet, but the software has been monitored and has been shown to be in full working order.”

ADT was asked for its comments following the introduction of the new hi-tech Controlled Vehicular Access system, which came into force on Tuesday but went into effect yesterday since Tuesday was a public holiday.

The biggest issue that seems to be cropping up is the demand for car spaces on the Valletta ring road, which is exempt from charge. Various people contacted The Malta Independent offices to say there was bad congestion throughout the morning as people looked for inexistent empty spaces where they could park.

Several people who work in Valletta said that they had gone to work an hour earlier than normal, at 7am, but the ring road was already chock-a-block full. Mr Pule conceded this and said that many people were trying to park on the ring road to avoid the toll fee into Valletta. “But we also have to remember that people now have to re-navigate their way around the capital because certain streets are no longer open to traffic,” said Mr Pule.

He said the ADT did not think that people’s behaviour yesterday was resistance to change. “No, not at all,” he said, “it is merely a case of adjusting to the change.

“We have satisfied the technical aspect of the new system, but now it comes down to the actual mechanics of it, how people actually travel,” he said.

Asked whether one could expect such congestion every morning, Mr Pule said: “At this point, we cannot answer. It is too early. All we can say is that the computerised side of the system is working properly but motorists themselves need to get used to the way the mechanics work.”

Readers also contacted this newspaper to say that the Park and Ride zone in Floriana was brimming over by as early as 8am, as were other car parks around the capital. Mr Pule said: “Again, we do not have any exact figures as yet, but the Park and Ride zone was full yesterday, as it was on Tuesday and on Monday and last week.”

Meanwhile, the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises released a statement comparing traffic figures on the first day of the new system to the last day of the old system. The GRTU said that between 7am and 9am, the number of vehicles entering the capital decreased by 400 (14 per cent). This, said the GRTU, created more parking spaces for people entering Valletta after 9am, most of whom were shoppers.

The GRTU also said the Controlled Vehicular Access system did not leave a negative impact on traffic during shopping hours, adding that the number of vehicles that entered the restricted zone between 9am and 1pm increased by two per cent.

The GRTU said that figures were encouraging and initial indicators showed that the new system seemed to encourage more shoppers into the capital as it had become more accessible.

The chamber also said it was satisfied at the way the pedestrian zone was panning out, but added that more needed to be done in St John’s Square and parts of Merchants Street.

Meanwhile, the Malta Labour Party’s spokesman on Roads and Transport, Charles Buhagiar said the new system was nothing short of a new tax implemented by the government to generate more revenue.

Mr Buhagiar said although the MLP was in favour of increasing the pedestrian zone in Valletta, residents’ parking and the new system should in no way, form or manner, become another tax on the people.

The MLP said that workers were finding it difficult to park in the morning and that public transport was not always a viable option because many people needed to run errands before or after work. Mr Buhagiar also called on Urban Development and Roads Minister Jesmond Mugliett to clarify various issues, such as access for goods delivery, access for market hawkers and the inconvenience caused to residents. He said the initiative was put into practice without the necessary planning.

The new system supplants the old dinosaur that was the purchase of a “V” licence. Drivers will be able to park in Valletta free of charge for half an hour, after which they will be charged 35c for the next 30 minutes and 35c per hour thereafter. The parking charges will be capped at Lm2.80.

Parking on Sundays and public holidays will be free of charge, and the new parking rates will be applicable Mondays to Fridays between 8am and 6pm, and on Saturdays between 8am and 1pm.

Electric cars, motorcycles, public transport vehicles and cars carrying 10 or more people will be exempted from the payment scheme.

The hi-tech system uses Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology and will photograph vehicles entering and leaving the city. On that basis, the system will calculate the length of stay in Valletta and bill the registered owner of the vehicle accordingly.

Bills of over Lm5 will be issued on a monthly basis, while lower bills will be issued on a quarterly basis. Vehicle owners will be able to pay their bills by cheque, direct debit, at the Valletta local council, at CVA’s offices or online at the CVA website – www.cva.gov.mt – where motorists will also be able to check their bills and access other information.

If the bill is not settled within one month, a two per cent interest will be applied, which will increase by a further two per cent if not paid within the second month. If by the third month the bill has not yet been settled, it will increase by 100 per cent.

In a statement issued last night, the ADT said that the numbers of vehicles that entered Valletta between 7am and 9am decreased by 14 per cent.