Council objects to proposed parking scheme in Qui-Si-Sana

The Sliema local council is dead set against a proposed parking scheme - part of a planned project for Qui-Si-Sana - that would make residents pay for parking on the road in their own hometown, the mayor of Sliema said yesterday.

Albert Bonello du Puis said such a scheme would be illegal, as it is only local councils that have the right to designate such parking zones.

Speaking to The Times yesterday, the mayor was referring to details about the proposed Qui-Si-Sana development that emerged during a consultation meeting held between the council and representatives of the contractor last Friday.

The contractor, C&F Building Contractors, has applied to develop an underground car park in Qui-Si-Sana and was bound by the development brief to hold such a meeting.

The parking zone indicated in the development brief stretches from Tigné to St Mary Street.

According to the local council, the developer is suggesting that as he is responsible for setting up the signage and the administration of the parking zone he would have the right to charge fees either on a yearly basis, on a 12-hour basis or for a specific number of hours depending on the needs of the individual car owner.

The development brief notes that the zone is to be administered by the developer for three years and then the scheme would be passed on to the local council.

The council has written to the developer asking him to provide them with a copy of the zone study.

The council is in favour of building an underground car park as long as the current garden in Qui-Si-Sana is embellished and enlarged to include the current parking area.

The council would not object to the construction of a kiosk and toilet facilities at ground level as long as those would be the only structures at that level.

Mr Du Puis said the local council was insisting with the government that the dilapidated and dangerous structure of what used to be Jumbo Lido at Qui-Si-Sana be removed forthwith and that the beach be rehabilitated.

Labour Party councillor Martin Debono, who attended last week's meeting, said the developer would be receiving funds from Mepa's parking commuted scheme to build the underground parking area.

However, the contractor may in the end decide to turn part of the car park to other uses as had happened with the underground car park in High Street, Sliema, part of which was now a supermarket, Mr Debono argued.

The development brief for Qui-Si-Sana indicates an area of 7,000 square metres which will support an innovative tourism-related development.

Mr Debono said that a public consultation meeting had been held in 1999 about the development at Qui-Si-Sana but at that time it did not include a tourist-related project as the 2002 brief indicates.

Therefore, another public consultation needed to be held in order to explain the additions to the 1999 brief.

C&F Contractors will also be developing the Chalet and the area close to it in a separate project. The parking spaces at the Chalet would not be available for use by the public but by the owners of the commercial premises there.

Mr Debono said the Chalet development indicates the building of a cafeteria at promenade level, two kiosks, a tourist information point and souvenir shop. Other facilities include a pizzeria and health and fitness centre, a restaurant and a jazz club and piano bar.

AD councillor Michael Briguglio pointed out the urgent need for a public consultation about the 2003 development brief for Qui-Si-Sana because it differed substantially from the 1999 brief.

Mr Briguglio said he would raise this and other issues about the car park at the next monthly meeting of the local council on Wednesday.