Is it time for another campaign?

Over the years, since 1992, we ran various successful campaigns through this column on important issues such as the inclusion of the 'best before date' to be printed on milk cartons, the removal of our name and address from our car windscreen licence, and the removal of the satellite dish tax.

At this point, we must thank former Competitiveness Minister Ċensu Galea, who intervened on our behalf to resolve all these issues. This time I was approached by Antoine Ellul and Mario Zammit who sent me this letter:

'In an ideal world where the motorist should be perceived as a consumer, a number of practices (or should we say malpractices) by local councils, are being foisted on the individual with evident lack of fairness.

'One of the trends is the 60-minute parking restriction that seems to be spreading like wild fire in the vast majority of towns and villages. It appears that this is serving as a dual purpose, for residents and local councils alike: a reciprocal and convenient expedient, whereby residents are given illegal jurisdiction over the streets they live in, with the council's blessing, while securing the latter a pay-back in terms of revenue from fines throughout the year and votes at election time.

'One must bear in mind the principle that residential streets are meant to be used for the common good by all citizens. This is nothing short of misplaced arrogance by the residents abetted by local councils.

'It is a parody to see our tiny nation being eaten up by all sorts of fancily conjured parking rights and privileges, which render it smaller and smaller as each privilege sees the light of day (Valletta springs to mind).

'Just think for a moment what will happen if this phenomenon goes unchecked. The result would most likely be that the Maltese would not be able to park freely in any other town or village except their own. Now who would sanction such a situation to come into being?

'Parking within the legal parameters of the Highway Code should be the sole yardstick to this new problem. Don't we all pay the same taxes in road tax, licence registration, etc.? So, why create distinctions between different sets of people? Parking should ideally be based on a first-come first-served basis within ethical standards.

'Given the ever-increasing number of newly registered vehicles that are constantly reaching shores, Central Government should take into consideration the need of taking in hand a comprehensive plan to obtain as much parking space as possible from what mother nature has provided. In this manner, the motorist would be getting back something in return for the hefty income that the Government derives from vehicle registration.

'Let our country smarten up to EU legislation and its inspiring principles of freedom of movement. Government, take note. Remove those awkward 60-minute parking signs!' (Antoine Ellul and Mario Zammit)

Write to me if you share Mr Ellul's and Mr Zammit's views. We could even run a campaign. However, it is important for readers to send us letters to feature every week.