Residents only/60-minutes parking

Here is another letter about the much-debated issue of reserved residents' parking:

'I have followed the subject closely and would like to let you know that this parking practice is illegal. In fact, both myself and other family members have been issued with tickets for parking in such zones in various towns and villages. On presenting our petition to the Petitions Board, we cited a court judgment delivered by Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco last January (Case Citation no. 949/2004) - Maria Victoria and Joseph Borg vs the Mayor and Executive Secretary representing Pietà council.

'This judgment declares that the imposition of the reserved zone for residents is ultra vires (beyond one's legal power or authority) and of preferential measure, and the request is accepted by Maria Victoria and Joseph Borg to have the ticket declared null and without effect. A copy of this can be obtained from the court's website or from the Customer Care section of the Local Councils Department.

'However, what amazes me most is that this judgment was delivered over a year ago now and we still have local councils breaking the law. I would presume that both the government and the councils are aware of it, but are still persisting in breaking the law.' (Edwin Zaffarese)

I thank Mr Zaffarese for explaining the issue so clearly.

It is disgusting that, despite the current scenario, local councils still break the law. I appeal to councils to have the decency to remove all illegal placards.

Here is another letter:

'I am in favour of residents' parking schemes and support Ta' Xbiex council. I was sympathetic to employees parking until I read a letter from their perspective. Here's a company that set up business in a villa in a residential area and now claims a right to on-street parking for up to 89 employees.

'That's what I call arrogance!' (D.H. MacLachlan)

Here is John Cassar's reply to Mr MacLachlan, on behalf of Elmo Insurance Ltd:

'I must say that when I read Mr MacLachlan's letter I was left speechless, but not for long. Here is another Ta' Xbiex resident who thinks that he has a divine right over other Maltese who pay the same taxes, and expects to have a reserved parking space.

'Contrary to what Mr MacLachlan thinks, we, employees of Elmo Insurance, are not claiming any rights towards parking spaces; it is he and others like him who expect these rights. We only expect to be treated equally as others.

'When Elmo Insurance set up business in Ta' Xbiex, it did not break any law nor did it ask for any special rights for its employees. Therefore, I cannot understand Mr MacLachlan's attitude towards the company and others operating from Ta' Xbiex.

'The Constitution guarantees equal rights to all citizens, but according to Mr MacLachlan, some are more equal than others.' (John Cassar)

I agree with Mr Cassar. It is high time these people who have erroneously taken it for granted that they have jurisdiction over the streets they live in, to come to terms with the fact that all people living in Malta and Gozo who own a licensed car have the legal right to park in any street, town, or village, at all times.

We are currently running a campaign against the way local councils have taken it upon themselves to prohibit non-residents from parking cars in reserved parking zones for more than two hours. This is illegal. Streets do not belong to the residents.

Notices displaying '120 minutes parking' are illegal. Therefore, we need to keep asking councils to respect the law.