Parking in Valletta

I am not going into who will be entitled to park in Valletta next year, whether Cabinet Ministers, heads of Government Departments, and others might not receive the bill from the CCTV cameras.

What I am asking the board that came out with the plan and the white paper is whether the added cost on the workers was taken into consideration?

Do the residents of Valletta and Floriana own a car? Do they go to Bugibba, Sliema or Marsascala during the week and on weekends? Do they pay 30c an hour to park?

Do they come to 'University' for a function and dump their car in front of my door for three hours and more? Or maybe visit the General Hospital?

I work in Valletta and many times I have to go out and return on several occasions. For me 60c a day is very expensive, because it is a hundred per cent more than what I give the local parker.

I agree that parking in the city is heavy, but tell me where the parking in other major cities is not that heavy. Yes, they have parking meters and full parking facilities, and they have to pay. However, compared to their salaries, it is nothing.

If the Government wants to implement the plan, yes why not? They could still indicate pedestrian zones and remove the private parking lines for most of those who use them for a whole day and leave the parking places as they are today.

First in will have the advantage to park in an already existing parking place. But if they want to attract extra income with this system, then let it be.

I hope that the Chamber, the GRTU and other constituted bodies will do something about it.