Parking in Old Theatre Street

Res Ipsa Loquitur - the thing speaks for itself. From time to time Valletta council emerges from hibernation and bursts into sporadic activity.

However its only activity seems to be concentrated on doling out favours in the form of concessions. This, in spite of solemn declarations that parking concessions were to be removed, except for those granted to the disabled. This latest specimen therefore appears to be in conflict with the proposed removal of unjustified parking concessions.

Valletta council has been trying since last July to grant some form of 'privilege' to a section of Old Theatre Street. The first attempt met with such resistance from the residents that the pedestrianisation of the area had to be suspended within two weeks.

The next attempt was the installation of a bollard in front of the premises in the photograph. More complaints from the residents resulted in the suspension of the installation of that bollard as it was pointed out that, since there were other bollards quite close, two further parking spaces - if not three - were going to be sacrificed.

In the meantime, a minimum of seven parking spaces have been lost to bollards on that particular block. The reason was that funeral corteges needed parking spaces.

In reality, funeral corteges park in the middle of Old Theatre Street, blocking it for the duration of the church service as the bollards are never removed.

Parking in this stretch of Old Theatre Street however continues to be reduced dramatically. Valletta council has now sought a compromise by granting a limited no parking sign.

On what grounds has this privilege been granted? By what legal ruling can it be justified? Is it backed by ADT approval?