Getting into Valletta (4)

Christine Bezzina from Valletta, in her letter of May 9, suggests that those of us grumbling about the new parking scheme in Valletta can use public transport or pay a fee - a choice she claims she never had. Today, with the new scheme she can come and go quite freely and get on with her housework.

While I appreciate her joy in being able to leave home secure in the knowledge that on her return she will find a place to park and this without having to unload half the contents of her home in the middle of the street to secure her a place (a frequent occurrence in Valletta until recently), may I point out that where I come from, parking is equally dreadful. It's actually much worse. I live in Sliema where parking is a problem every day of the week (and more so on weekends) unlike the parking problem in Valletta which is limited to certain days and times. In Sliema, weekdays, weekends, Christmas, the spring and the summer months see everybody and his dog come a visiting the Ferries, the beaches, the Sliema and Gzira seafronts and Spinola Bay.

The numerous Church feasts make parking virtually impossible and non-residents and their vehicles stay on well into the early hours of the morning. I think that everybody feels the same frustration about not being able to park close to their home, especially mothers who have children, buggies and heavy shopping to carry. No one likes the inconvenience. Mrs Bezzina is not unique in feeling this way. But the new Valletta scheme seems to be unique in solely accommodating people like her.

What happens to people like us, who live in the Sliema/St Julians area and work in Valletta? We seem to be getting a very raw deal. I think that the Sliema and St Julians local councils should take a leaf out of the Valletta council's book and anyone wanting to visit our part of the world can do so at a fee, or by bus.

That way we can all be happy and we can all get on with our housework, just like Mrs Bezzina.