Parking nightmare at Vittoriosa

Vittoriosa is blessed with two major religious feasts and several annual celebrations and festivities: Birgufest, Birgu Day, Freedom Day, and Republic Day commemorations. It is very annoying that on these occasions 'no parking' signs are put up for long hours and days in the few open street parking sites.

Recently, and not so recently, several wine bars and eateries have appeared in Vittoriosa. More restaurants and cafè bars are planned at St Angelo waterfront; the casino is another popular attraction. The long foreseen invasion of Vittoriosa by patrons has become a reality.

Parking space on the waterfront has been drastically reduced. Besides, it is the practice for coaches bringing visitors to park at Xatt ir-Rizq, taking up precious parking space for smaller vehicles. The situation will worsen when Fort St Angelo, a world heritage gem, is turned into a major cultural and tourist attraction.

Playing host to tourists and locals is characteristic of the Maltese and, in Vittoriosa we are no less appreciative of visitors to our historic city. We are proud to show off our beautiful city with its majestic fortifications, churches and museums, but residents' parking needs should not be neglected.

The new outlets and the Cottonera Waterfront Group could join forces to solve the parking problems. Some visitors are parking their cars in Cospicua and Kalkara: it is not encouraging to have to walk a considerable distance to reach Vittoriosa.

The Cottonera Waterfront Group, or whoever is now responsible for the site known as "cement stores", should consider converting this area into a multi-storey car park with a roof garden.

In its efforts to provide adequate parking facilities for residents and visitors, Vittoriosa council needs the full co-operation of all concerned.