Arrangements made over campus parking (1)

KSU would like to point out that there are some blatant inconsistencies in the article Battle For Parking On Campus (October 14). In the first paragraph it is stated that there is a problem with infrequent buses, whereas in the fifth paragraph the same author admits that "direct routes are served by an hourly service".

With regard to the so-called "infrequent buses" problem, KSU would like to point out that this has been solved by the previous KSU executive. Various meetings had been held with ADT and following that a direct bus service has been established from all the localities in Malta. Thus, one can safely say that this issue has already been attended to.

To our knowledge, all direct bus services are arriving on time. Students are advised that if this is not the case, they should warn KSU immediately and KSU will take the necessary action to rectify the situation.

The author also points out that certain bus routes leave at awkward early hours. The traffic problem in the early hours of the morning is not one of the island's best-kept secrets.

Buses, even though one finds bus lanes in a number of main arteries, may still get stuck in traffic. Thus, the early hours are only there to compensate both for this traffic and for the longer distances these buses have to travel.

The problem of lack of space is one which warrants no short-term solution. The stark truth in the issue is that at present there simply aren't enough parking spaces to go around. The only viable solution would be the creation of more parking spaces. This, one may say, is already sufficiently clear with all the authorities concerned.

What KSU would like to point out is that last year, in the first weeks of October, a system was already in place.

During this time KSU carried out an audit that showed that there was a discrepancy in the way the parking spaces were allocated, and the actual usage by those to whom the spaces were allocated. Following this, all the parties concerned met again following an action taken by KSU on October 16, 2007.

An agreement was subsequently reached on November 11 after University Administration, KSU, UMASA and UĦM agreed that 666 spaces were to be allocated to students, 255 spaces to the academics and 492 to the non-academic staff.

What the author refers to as the "infamous car park 6" is the biggest car park at the University, which at the moment has 200 slots allotted for non-academic staff and the remaining 354 bays allocated to students.

KSU also finds that the claim made by the author that "dozens of white slots...were left unoccupied" as unfounded. 9 a.m., the time that The Times seems to have carried out its investigation, is notoriously within the peak time of the parking problem.

Having said all this, KSU would like to commend the excellent work being carried out by the precincts' office in the administration of traffic and parking on campus.

The way this office is currently handling the situation is transparent, professional and top-notch as per the given circumstances.

KSU would also like to clarify that statistics were supplied by KSU. As a matter of fact, KSU had also replied to each of the author's e-mails, having sent in the statistics on Friday October 10.

KSU was also available for comment, directing the author as to whom to contact with regards to the problem.

Having said this, we are always readily available for comment and would be happy to send in any further clarifications.