Request for timed parking

I refer to the letter entitled How's That For Government Efficiency (September 21).

The Malta Transport Authority feels obliged to clarify points raised throughout the course of the letter with particular reference to the first parliamentary question, PQ 23484, made by Leo Brincat on January 24, 2007.

Such PQ asked for information regarding a local council request, on behalf of commercial outlets in Triq San Gorg, St Julians for a 30-minute timed parking scheme in the aforementioned road. In this PQ, it was stated that the request for timed parking had been submitted to the Traffic Management Unit a few months before the date of such PQ. The Traffic Management Unit carried out a research in its records dating back a few months (taken as 12 months by the Traffic Management Unit) as had been indicated by Mr Brincat.

The unit confirms that some months before January 2007, hence taken since January 2006, no request for 30-minute parking had been received at the Malta Transport Authority. However, further to this PQ, a copy of the local council request, dated June 22, 2004, as referred to by Mr Brincat, was submitted for the attention of the Traffic Management Unit through a second parliamentary question, numbered 27477.

The Traffic Management Unit confirms that this letter dated June 22, 2004, was received at the unit and a reply was issued to the local council on June 28, 2004 wherein the council was informed that requests for timed parking were to be submitted as per terms of reference for the creation of controlled residents parking schemes.

To date, the unit has not received any further information or feedback from the local council and, thus, this request for timed parking could not be processed further.

The ADT wishes to draw the attention of the correspondent and other readers to the following:

In PQ 23484, the Traffic Management Unit was misguided by Mr Brincat who stated that the request for timed parking had been submitted at the unit a few months before January 24, 2007. The submission had, in fact, been made three years earlier, that is, on June 22, 2004.

In PQ 23484, the Traffic Management Unit was once again misguided by Mr Brincat when he stated that the request for 30-minute timed parking had been made when, in fact, the request was for 20-minute timed parking.

In PQ 23484, the Traffic Management Unit was informed that the request had been made by shop owners in Triq San Gorg only. In fact, the request was made by shop owners in Ross Street as well.

To conclude, it is greatly appreciated that PQs made to the Malta Transport Authority are more precise and accurate in order to avoid any forms of misunderstanding and incomprehension for the benefit of all.