UHM walks out of meeting on Floriana parking scheme

Floriana mayor Publius Agius has accused the Union Haddiema Maghqudin of spoiling the chances of a controlled parking scheme for Floriana.

At a meeting attended by the Floriana local council, the UHM and the Malta Transport Authority (ADT), the union strongly contested the proposal because it claimed the scheme would not leave any parking space for workers, Mr Agius said. Union representatives walked out of the meeting.

UHM general secretary Gejtu Vella said the union was annoyed at certain comments made during the meeting, such as that there was no need for unions to be consulted over the scheme.

This was not the case, he said, because the unions also represented the interests of employees who worked in Floriana.

Another matter that bothered the union was the impression that the scheme was to be introduced anyway and that the meeting was just a formality. This was not acceptable to the union, Mr Vella argued.

Moreover, he added, the council was not in a position to supply the union with the information requested.

For example, the union wanted to know how many workers would be affected by the council's proposal but such data was not available.

The General Workers Union, which had also been invited to the meeting, did not attend.

Mr Agius questioned why unions should be involved in discussions on a parking scheme but deplored the "negative" attitude of the UHM towards the council's proposals.

The mayor accused the UHM of arrogance for the way they repeatedly interrupted him while he was giving his views on the proposed scheme.

The scheme would restrict the length of time non-residents can park in certain streets.

The council already has about 100 parking bays that are time-restricted for other users but is insisting it needs 500 more.

Restricted parking for non-residents would be for a maximum of two hours Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The parking spaces outside the residential zone indicated by the council would not be tied to time restrictions.

The council noted that if the UHM believed in the protection of the environment it should encourage workers to use public transport.

Next week, the council is planning to meet the ADT in the presence of the UHM with a view to trying to resolve the controversy.

The council means to take legal action to press for the introduction of the scheme, Mr Agius said.

On another issue, he said the council feels bad about the lack of consultation by Heritage Malta which had informed the council by fax that a historic cannon in front of the monument to Grand Master Manoel de Vilhena in Pope John Paul XXIII Square will be removed to be exhibited indoors to prevent further damage.

The council was due to discuss the issue with Heritage Malta, yesterday.

Two bronze cannon at the entrance to Auberge de Castille in Valletta were removed on Monday for the same reason.