Residents' parking

I was very pleased to read that the First Hall of the Civil Court recently decided against the idea of having residents' parking.

Ever since its inception, I have spoken to numerous people declaring my opposition to the idea for the simple reason that it discriminates against drivers and because streets do not belong to anyone.

We find numerous streets with notices allowing parking for a certain short time, then drivers have to move away and not return within an hour except for residents. Isn't this discrimination? Aren't drivers licensed and pay to make use of streets, without breaking laws of course?

Recently, a car was parked near my home. Nothing very unusual about this, but what attracted my attention was a badge issued by the St Julians local council with the details of that particular car. The car was parked from early morning to late in the evening which meant that, while this driver felt free to park all day and late into the evening, I was not allowed to go and park in St Julians because I am not a resident of the locality. This is deemed to be correct, fair and just!

There are a good number of large towns where many residents find it very difficult and well nigh impossible to park anywhere. If the idea of residents' parking had to be accepted, then surely local councils should feel obliged to declare the whole town as a restricted parking area except for residents. Can you imagine the disruption this would create?

Here I would like to ask: Is it lawful for local councils to change the established lawful colour of parking bays?

Shouldn't it be abundantly obvious that this abuse brings about more abusive situations? I will explain.

Some time ago, I was told by people I can rely on that there are people who would like to put up barriers at the ends of the street they live in so that only residents may use it. I must state that I never followed this up but, seeing what the situation is at present, it would not surprise me at all.

We are told that residents come first. Why? And who are classified as residents? To my way of seeing things, it's either everyone or no one.

At Christmas time, I was invited to a home. I made sure, as usual, that I parked correctly, more so since in this particular street there is quite a number of garages, with no way of telling what they are used for. During the evening I was told that I was liable to find a note attached to the windscreen telling me that I should not park in this street because I do not belong there!

It is expedient that the government acts now to nip this and other parking abuses in the bud before matters get worse as they are bound to.