Victoria's parking problem

As a Gozitan, I was pleased to learn that last year Gozo's hotels and guesthouses enjoyed a 19 per cent increase in occupancy over the previous year.

Gozo is also witnessing a considerable number of Maltese visitors not only on long weekends but also on other special occasions such as Carnival and Holy Week. In fact, Gozo Channel, between Wednesday and Easter Sunday, carried a total of 63,143 passengers and 15,477 vehicles - an increase of 400 passengers and 200 cars over last year's figures. Apart from this influx of visitors during these shoulder months, the high exodus of Maltese holidaymakers throughout the summer months should be also taken into account.

Victoria, being the island's main town, is undoubtedly attracting most of these visitors, foreign and Maltese, who normally travel with their own cars. This means that more parking spaces are required. Already, our main public parking area is full with local residents' vehicles. Consequently visitors have a problem trying to park. The result is traffic jams in various areas in Victoria. Clearly this problem has to be solved.

It is officially assumed that Victoria's environment does not permit more parking areas to be created. In fact the two parking places planned by the local council and the Cathedral parish on either side of the Citadel, have been opposed by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. This means that the Government has to offer a practical solution.

I have submitted a proposal for official consideration to more than double the existing parking spaces. It can be carried out in two phases. The first stage incorporates the excavation of the existing bus terminus area, so that under its new concrete floor a new sheltered parking area is created. The second stage entails the lowering of the whole floor of the actual parking area to construct two parking levels. The upper level will be open air like the present one, while the lower one will be sheltered.

If approved, this project will provide Victoria with three main parking areas - and, most importantly, without the need to take up additional land. This is because these works will be executed on the same areas actually being used for public purposes, namely the bus terminus as well as its adjacent public parking area.

I have reason to believe that with today's technology and the good will of the Government, my proposals are indeed feasible.