In a bid to encourage shoppers to benefit from the recent liberalisation of vehicle entry to Valletta through the CVA, GRTU has launched a scheme whereby 16,000 vouchers are being distributed to 400 outlets in Valletta, each voucher providing an hour’s parking in Valletta for 35c. This should translate into practically free parking for people who shop in Valletta; not forgetting that parking after 6pm is free of charge.
This was announced yesterday at a press conference by GRTU heads Vince Farrugia and Paul Abela together with transport minister Jesmond Mugliett.
Meanwhile, this newspaper has learnt that the bills for the first month of the CVA operation are due within days. Mr Mugliett said yesterday that almost 70,000 cars entered Valletta in the first month, far more than the 33,000, which had the V-licence previously.
The system to be operated will be: those who have run up bills of more than Lm5 will receive the bill; others will get their bills every three months.
People can go on-line to www.cva.gov.mt and enter their licence plate. Those who pay on-line will receive a 10 per cent discount, as also those who register for direct debit.
The bills will be itemised, including the date, time in and time out of Valletta and even the entry and exit points.
If the bills take longer than three months to be paid, the licence will not be renewed until these bills are paid.
There is also a special system for those who own a fleet of cars.
Monti may relocate within a week
Government sources told this newspaper that the work on Merchants Street is “three weeks in advance of plans”. According to the agreement reached with UHM, the Monti should have started to operate from its new site as from last week, but the government accepted a UHM plea to delay the relocation by a week, as work on the part of Merchants Street from Old Theatre Street to St Lucia Street should be completed in the coming week, thus giving the Monti in its new location, when it opens there a week tomorrow, a second access through Sta Lucia Street.
Five Monti licences have been surrendered so far but following a UHM request, the deadline has been extended to next Friday as some others who were said to be interested in surrendering their licence were still undecided.
The electric mini cab system is due to be launched on Thursday. A prototype has already been in use in the Park & Ride area over the past weeks. Considerable interest has been registered by some big business organisations, notably banks, which intend to lease more than one such car for their corporate use.
Last days for St John trees?
Work has already started on the Merchant Street side of St John’s Co-Cathedral and will turn into St John Street in the coming days.
These might be the last days for the gigantic trees in front of St John’s, though they will in any case be transplanted somewhere else and the final decision is still to be taken.
In a way, when the trees in front of the Valletta market were pulled up and transplanted some weeks ago, the main reason was the relocation of the Monti and the need for space, but also as a kite-flying initiative for the St John’s trees. In fact, little to no adverse comment arose.
This time, obviously, things will be different.
There are aesthetic reasons for removing the trees from in front of St John’s. It is held that the cathedral façade and the square were not designed for trees, which clash with the baroque surroundings, especially when the trees in question are gigantic trees.
But an even more cogent reason is the risk of serious damage the trees pose to the cathedral’s foundations. Obviously, one can argue that it will only be when roots come out of the marble floor of St John’s that one can be very certain the trees pose danger but does one have to wait so long?
Photos already show the spread of roots in the three huge reservoirs that lie underground just in front and to the side of St John’s.
There is also what one can call the botany argument: the ultimate spread of a tree’s roots is roughly as far out as the spread of its uncut branches. If that is the case, the roots may well be half way under the church!
Public opinion did not seem unduly perturbed by the removal of the trees outside the Market but the government is now in a wait and see mode as regards the ones in front of St John’s .
One must also consider that this is a unique opportunity to take a decision as one cannot finally decide to remove the trees after all the work is done.