Half of Sliema roads marked for residential parking

C.ZARB

Jul 23rd 2009, 11:19

We live in a country where MPs take substantial salary rises in the middle of a recession while we have to foot the bill.

We live in a country where its ok to allow illegal hawkers on a beach (which truly compromise the blue flag's application) but its not ok to do BBQs there (despite nature trust claiming that unlike the illegal hawkers, bbqs will not disrupt pretty bay's blue flag application).

We live in a country where scandals are not scandals anymore, where EU parliament's candidates can break the law and get away with it and where information are 'displaced' at MEPA.

I as a non Sliema resident, can't change Sliema's major but I will do my outmost to change the government in few years time. And believe me I can't wait for the PN lackeys to come knocking at my door asking me why Im not going to vote PN in the next general elections.

Stanley Fenech

Jul 23rd 2009, 10:44

@Thomas Engerer

With an uncommon surname like yours (quoting you) it is very obvious you are very close to the local council. Thanks for your support and understanding.

Thomas Engerer

Jul 23rd 2009, 10:30

Galea L.

Above the law it seems.. so typical.. I really doubt you are going to get your tickets rescinded.. You wont defy the system.. we are not living in the 80's and I will forward your comments to the local council to make sure they look out for people like you.

and as for discrimination.. you have no case.

Good luck with your struggle! LOL..

look forward to seeing the system in place!

D Mifsud

Jul 23rd 2009, 10:09

How would you like to return home from shopping, only to park 15 minutes away from home AND have to carry your heavy shopping bags home. The problem increases tenfold when you have something bulky (vacuum cleaner, computer..) or had multiple stops and end up having to do 2 or more trips to the car since you can't carry everything in 1 trip. So add another 30 minutes walk in the summer sun. If this happens once a month it would be acceptable. But this happens EVERY SINGLE DAY!! Go to the Cara's area ANY time after 7pm in Summer and see! Or maybe shall we BREAK THE LAW and double park, park at a corner, block a street, park on the pavement etc until we unload and take the shopping home, then go park 15 minutes away? I agree that the scheme is a bit OTT, but something definitely had to be done because the situation in summer is incredibly impossible for residents. I wonder why certain small towns need resident parking when there are only a few shops in the area and there always is plenty of parking at most a couple of corners away. PURE LUXURY.

J Oatmon

Jul 23rd 2009, 09:41

The problem is not enough parking space or garages - the only solution more parking spaces and garages.
Even if the area where you live is not a shopping/work area like Sliema or Valletta, you still suffer because what happens in many areas is - people drive to an area where they can park, park, and then get the bus to Valletta to work. So the cars stay parked all day in the residential area, and many cars are from 'visitors'.

The ADT needs to survey every village and town and count all the available parking spaces, then where there is an obvious need, the only solution is more car parks. A google map survey can show suitable car park areas and these should be acquired by the government and set up as inexpensive 'automatic pay on exit" car parks.

No building permits without every unit having a car space/garage and car parking for visitors and trade vehicles where necessary.

All new residences must have a car space or garage, and no exceptions, these must be mandatory not optional.






How do we do this, well

yves cali

Jul 23rd 2009, 09:36

The above article states 'According to the residential parking scheme being proposed by the local council, non-residents will only be able to park for two hours in half the roads. Residents will have no such restrictions.' The article omits the fact that the other half of each road will offer total unrestricted parking exactly as at present. As a Counsil Member I feel that I know enough about the RPZ scheme to be able to comment. I would appreciate it, were the Times to issue a clarification.

Stanley Fenech

Jul 23rd 2009, 09:09

@Thomas Engerer

I was not saying you were foreign because of your surname, but because you mentioned London as your base. Secondly, I do not visit Sliema all that much, but my wife does, as she works there offerring services to people who live at Sliema, like you did (thanks for your appreciation!). And believe me, paying €30 for a parking to go to work is not an option since as you might know wages are not so permissive in Malta. Third, using the public transport is also not an option as it takes about one and a half hours for her to reach there. With two small kids that is not possible as one cannot leave two small kids alone at home. So do excuse me if I offended you, but when one strives to have a decent life and make ends meet and finds that everything working against one's thoughts, then such issues are seen in a different perspective. I live in a busy road in Naxxar with lots of shops and a large amount of custom visiting them. Parking on the road is not an option, I park in a garage.

J. Bugeja

Jul 23rd 2009, 09:01

I rarely go to sliema initially becasue of the parking problem now most probably I'll ban it.
And I believe that many will think twice before heading to Sliema to do their shopping or spend their leisure time there.
Why don't we do all of MAlta reserved for residents only, all you have to do is leave your car in your own space.

N. Aquilina

Jul 23rd 2009, 08:42

@G. Grech quote "Its funny how no one complained about this issue in Ta Xbiex "
Than let me be the first one to complain! I am a Gzira resident living very near to the Ta'Xbiex area and every day I go round and round in circles trying to find a parking space in Gzira to go home after going for a simple errand to the supermarket. All the parking spaces are being taken by people working in the Ta'xbiex area and can't park there. So they park in Gzira. Gzira counsil please take care of your residents!!!!

A. Mallia

Jul 23rd 2009, 00:21

Has any consideration been given to visiting relatives of Sliema residents who wish to spend more than two hours in Sliema?

At present (depending on the day/time of visiting), I sometimes spend up to half an hour literally going round in circles, trying to find a parking space not too far from my parents' home. To think that after doing so (assuming that I will eventually park in the vicinity), I would only be able to park for two hours is quite annoying, to say the least.

Whilst I fully understand the plight of Sliema residents, why has no consideration been given to their relvatives/visitors by the council? Surely one can come up with a better solution than that proposed?

Incidentally, which streets will be reserved solely for residents' parking?

Galea. L

Jul 22nd 2009, 22:18

Thomas Engerer
I do not care a hoot about what they do in London. All I care is that I and the erst of the citizens have the inalienable right NOT to be DISCRIMINATED against bu idiots at the local councils that will do everything to get votes.
NO resident owns any part of the street and what they own is only their house with its four walls. The streets are PUBLIC property to be used by EVERYONE without distinction. You can rest assured that I have defied the system elsewhere and shall defy the Sliema system should the occasion arise. I have always had my tickets rescinded and if they are not I shall contest the case before the local tribunal and all the necessary courts including foreign ones if necessary because I shall not take DISCRIMINATION against me by local council idiots lying down.
As for where I live and whether I should buy a property in Sliema that's none of your business. As a Maltese citizen I have as much right to park in a Sliema street as a Sliema resident without the Sliema resident having reserved parking in a PUBLIC street.

Galea. L

Jul 22nd 2009, 22:15

Joseph Pace
That's what should be done by everyone. Defy the system and contest the ticket by sending a petition to the Board for Petitions at POBox 412 Valletta citing discrimination, include reference to BORG MARIA VICTORIA ET vs SINDKU U SEG ESEKUTTIV IN RAPP TAL-KUNSILL LOKALI PIETA First Hall Civil Court where the Court decided that thge system is discriminatory and ultra vires the local councils powers and also include a copy of a report on Malta Today Sunday 6 July 2008 http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/2008/07/06/n3.html where it also makes reference to a request by Attard residents to have 5 or 6 parking spaces reserved for local residents for just TWO HOURS between 1200 and 1400 and the ADT answered withing a few days that “Residents Only Parking and Access for Residents Only are not approved by the Traffic Management Unit since these are discriminatory.” Do not let the local council arrogant idiots trample on your rights.

margaret richards

Jul 22nd 2009, 20:40

We are living in a country where a mayor can bully the country, the government and the state per se. Why doesn't someone stop these bullies??? Because that's what they are!!! Also this is going to result in Sliema becoming a cemetery. Who would want to go to Sliema, knowing that it's impossible to park, and if you are lucky or unlucky to do so after 2 hours you have to go around for another 2 hours obviously wasting precious fuel in the meantime to find another place which if you are lucky enough to find you can only remain for another 2 hours.

Joseph Galea

Jul 22nd 2009, 19:36

I wonder why all the discussion seems to centre on Sliema. I have seen the legal notice in question and there are numerous other villages throughout Malta which will have similarly designated streets.
Although a Sliema resident, I am doubtful whether the system is going to make life any easier. The reality is that there are at least twice the number of cars without garages in our street than there are parking spaces. If adjacent roads, which fall under the jurisdiction of St. Julian's, will now be out of bounds for Sliema residents the parking problem is bound to become worse rather than better.

Wilfred L Camilleri

Jul 22nd 2009, 19:07

Oh come on Mr. Engerer. "trust me we aren't going to miss you!" ? Businesses that rely on people who do not live in Slieam, like restaurants for example, wouldn't agree with you one bit. There has to be a balance between the rights of the residents and those of the businesses and visitors. If every town in Malta had this sort of attiutde you would never be able to go anywhere with a car. But may be that would be a blessing in disguise!!

Thomas Engerer

Jul 22nd 2009, 18:02

@Stanley Fenech

Not having a common Maltese surname doesn't mean I'm not Maltese or I don't/didn't live in Malta..

So before you speak get your facts right! :)

I can point my fingers where I want because I voted for my local councillors in the Sliema local Council!

U hekk trid niktibilek bil Malti biex zgur tifhem nista' ukoll..

C Romano

Jul 22nd 2009, 18:02

May I suggest to local councils who do not support such schemes to require residents coming from councils such as Sliema to display the parking meter and issue tickets if they stay longer than 60mins. This way the priviledged will feel the pinch we the normal citizens feel.

C Romano

Jul 22nd 2009, 18:01

May I suggest to local councils who do not support such schemes to require residents coming from councils such as Sliema to display the parking meter and issue tickets if they stay longer than 60mins. This way the priviledged will feel the pinch we the normal citizens feel.

Thomas Engerer

Jul 22nd 2009, 18:01

@Stanley Fenech

Not having a common Maltese surname doesn't mean I'm not Maltese or I don't/didn't live in Malta..

So before you speak get your facts right! :)

I can point my fingers where I want because I voted for my local councillors in the Sliema local Council!

U hekk trid niktibilek bil Malti biex zgur tifhem nista' ukoll..

Thomas Engerer

Jul 22nd 2009, 17:52

I lived most of my life in Sliema.. and have only recently moved to London and I can assure you.. you might be lucky that the public transport system works whilst you are on holiday in London.. but most of the times it doesn't.. or at least to travel a couple of miles it would be quicker by bike then by tube or worse by bus!

I like Mr Pace Ross had to go through the ordeal of looking for parking or risking a parking ticket all throughout my time spent living in Sliema.

I agree 100% with this new system.. and I must add they should allocate a number of parking spaces for visitors who can pay for parking when they are in Sliema.

If you don't like the system don't come to Sliema.. trust me we aren't going to miss you!

Amy Joan Zahra

Jul 22nd 2009, 16:48

Listen to the irony in this....I who am disabled will not be permitted a car space in front of my house in M'xlokk as we have a garage, EVEN THOUGH THE GARAGE IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD and is not convenient at all and ppl in Sliema are getting a free parking space....!!!!

Peter Bonnici

Jul 22nd 2009, 16:38

@ Galea L.
Some people are 'blessed' with living in towns and villages that nobody wants to visit.

G Grech

Jul 22nd 2009, 16:25

Its funny how no one complained about this issue in Ta Xbiex - which has had a residents' parking scheme for some months now; likewise Valletta and Swieqi. Why the complaints now? None of the detractors commenting below have any idea how difficult it is to park in Sliema especially of a summer evening. Nor have they had to incur the numerous parking tickets dished out in the early hours of the morning after the 'visitors' have gone back home. It is high time that Sliema residents were given a modicum of advantage to make living here acceptable.

Occasional visitors have no idea what it feels like to spend hours looking for parking and then be woken early in the morning by some unscrupulous contractor - to then try to figure out a way out of the maze because half the thoroughfares are blocked by construction vehicles. And this not to mention the parking ticket given at 3am for parking in front of a garage with the owner's permission.

Wiflred L Camilleri

Jul 22nd 2009, 16:07

I don’t believe that a vehicle license implies that you have a right to park on any street at any time. That said, I know that some cities in other countries have implemented schemes which give residents in areas where houses do not have garages the right to park on their own street. In the older sections of Toronto for example, many houses do not have garages so residents have the opportunity to buy an annual license that gives them the right to park on their own street. The street parking license is a different license than the vehicle license and has to be paid for separately. The license restricts the holder to parking on the street they live on. In some cases, resident parking is restricted to overnight hours only, e.g., 6:00 pm to 6:00 am, and parking is available to visitors during the day. Malta is basically in the same boat. Too many cars and not enough garages so it’s not surprising that such schemes are being implemented. What councils have to keep in mind is that they need to strike a balance between the residents, visitors and the businesses that can be adversely affected by such schemes.

Stanley Fenech

Jul 22nd 2009, 15:11

@Thomas Engerer

You cannot understand the problem if you live in London. London has an efficient public transport and in most cases, you can reach anywhere within the city center in less than an hour. In Malta, this is not the case. To go to Sliema using the public transport, during the rush hours, you need at least one and half hours to arrive, and another one and a half hours to return. That is almost three hours of public transport lost in a day in a country which is approximatly 30Km.

So please before commenting on our arguments get all the issues right. In our country, one tends to introduce schemes before creating solutions to the problems such schemes cause to the general public.

Moreover, do remember that we pay some of the highest rates on road taxes and vehicle licenses within Europe. Again, please read between the lines before you start pointing fingers.

Julian Pace Ross

Jul 22nd 2009, 15:10

Incidentally, in busy cities abroad, (Florence comes to mind), the city centre has a CVA-like system, but with a price of around 20 euro every time the camera is passed. Cutting emmissions and pollution is given top priority. What a lot we Maltese have yet to learn!

Julian Pace Ross

Jul 22nd 2009, 14:50

I live in Amery Street, Sliema, once a quiet residential area.

To all those against the scheme, put yourself in my shoes:

1) Everyday, we put up with dozens of Scotts' supermarket's delivery and refuse trucks that park badly all over the place, engines running, spewing diesel directly into our bedrooms. The area is filthy. A smell of garbage emanates from the supermarket's loading bay.

2) Stalemate traffic jams forms every couple of hours, with many selfish drivers not letting go of their horns, as though oblivious to the houses around them.

3) At night, visitors to the Front again hog all parking spaces, their cars speeding along the streets hooting at junctions at all times (stereos full on needless to say).

After work I usually drive around in circles for at least 20minutes. Sometimes, starving after a day's work, I just leave the car parked on a double yellow-line (as after all, the trucks do in the morning), rush in to grab a bite, only to return and find a nice ticket slapped on my windscreen.

Well done Local Council. Do not give in! The resident's parking scheme is the least we deserve!!!

Monica Spiteri

Jul 22nd 2009, 14:33

Right. so now if you happen to buy a house/flat in a particular road earmarked by the council for residents, does it mean one buys part of the road as well. What about us who live on roads that are not closed for RESIDENTS ONLY. Are we second class citizens??? And anyway all of us who work in Sliema (through no fault of ours but it is our livelihood), what shall we do.? Pay around 6 euros a day in a parking area, because any other parking lot is going to be full by 7.00 am if not before by those whose streets are not reserved for RESIDENTS ONLY? Also does not this treatment entice developers to build up Sliema even more? And perhaps higher? It is already bad enough. One last point, surely this measure is not in favour of all the new, highly finished new shops that are being set up in Sliema. Who will be insane enough to come shopping in Sliema when you only have 2 hours parking? (that is, if you find this parking and it is not already occupied by RESIDENTS). Or does are we expected to buy day permits from the RESIDENTS?

Daniel Jackson

Jul 22nd 2009, 14:17

@T.Engerer
Actually in london there is a charge parking system where you can be charged for parking. At least you can find parking.
With this system you can't find any parking at any price. Unless you want to get clamped that is.

So let's introduce a charging system for some roads in Sliema like the UK... that would be better.

Valerie Mathieson

Jul 22nd 2009, 13:24

I have been visiting Sliema for 23 years and the parking has becoming more and more difficult each year. With this 'resident's only' parking scheme, I will have to give serious thought to a return visit next year - that's another tourist Malta has lost!!

Joseph Pace

Jul 22nd 2009, 13:16

@Thomas Engerer

Apparently you don't get many visitors at home. I might live in St. Paul's now but was raised in Sliema and I know what parking there means. This does not mean that this proposed system is good. Its NOT good at all. In London it takes nothing to travel about because they have a great tube system, affordable taxis and a good bus system. We do not have any of that.

How will I go visit my parents?

How will I go visit my cousin who is like a brother to me and his kids ?

I even spend a complete day at either my cousin or parents.

I will refuse to pay these imposed fees and will take it to court if needed on discriminatry bases. I pay my road licenses and I expect to be provided service.

Do not accept this people!

M Grech

Jul 22nd 2009, 13:10

If this is done in Sliema, then it has to be everywhere, otherwise it is purely discrimination. So a Sliema resident can come and park in our street for the whole day or while he is at work nearby and then has a 'reserved' parking when he returns home. Whilst people in other towns/villages have to wait for him to leave so as to park their car. Besides, now when I visit my aged parents in Sliema, I rush in, accompany them with a cup of coffee maybe and then rush out. Very very inconvenient!!

Kate de Cesare

Jul 22nd 2009, 12:55

new developments are obliged by MEPA to create underground parking - but they're not obliged to sell these car spaces with the flats of that block.

When these car spaces are for sale for exorbitant amounts, its no wonder that people prefer not to purchase a car space when buying their flat. It should be imposed that for every new development, at least one car space must be included in the price of the flat. That'll reduce cars parked on the road.

Gordon Refalo

Jul 22nd 2009, 12:51

Why not just allocate a few spaces in every street for residents and leave all the other spaces for those who would like to visit Sliema for whatever reason or who work here?

N. Aquilina

Jul 22nd 2009, 12:22

Lets see how this works. Any Sliema or Ta'Xbiex resident can park indefinetly in their home town and in Gzira, and GZIRA residents have to go round in circles to find a place anywhere in Gzira.Why aren't Gzira residents being given" residential parking"??

Thomas Engerer

Jul 22nd 2009, 12:16

Galea. L
Are you saying roads in London are private? What's your argument? They are just as public as the roads in Malta.

What has discrimination got to do with anything? Feeling left out? buy a property in Sliema and you can park for as long as you want.. :S

Residents should always have priority to park in the town they live in. You obviously don't live in Sliema that's why you are bring up this argument.

Why do we have so many people like you who are resistant to change. If the article was online years back when cars where introduced you would have most probably posted something to the effect of.. "Why should I suffer the pollution of cars if horses do the job just fine.. Why should I suffer coz of some egoistic person who wants to drive.. " :S

Galea. L

Jul 22nd 2009, 11:51

Thomas Engerer
What is done in other countries does not necessarily apply in Malta. The streets are PUBLIC not private property and if the residents want to find parking then they should buy or rent a garage or garage space not imposing DISCRIMINATION through the local councilors on other non-resident citizens.

J. Gauci

Jul 22nd 2009, 11:48

I admit to being egoistic! If all villages want to use the same system I'll agree with it also. However, to deny that Sliema tends to get slightly more visitors every day than certain other villages is a bit useless. And believe it or not it does have an effect on the residents! Also, while I totally agree with parking three blocks away and walking home, when it becomes the norm even when the intention is only to be home for a short period of time, than it becomes extremely frustrating.

maria falzon

Jul 22nd 2009, 11:43

If every locality decides to do the same, basically cars would become useless, as no one would be able to park anywhere.

Sarah Jane Gatt

Jul 22nd 2009, 11:37

How about a park a ride system for Sliema, or perhaps people working in sliema can park in Floriana and then bus it to sliema.

joe calleja

Jul 22nd 2009, 11:19

The no.1 reason for this parking is NOT to accomidate the residents BUT becouse less people are buying property in Sliema and other such places.Parking Spaces,in a common garage are being sold for around 15.000 to 20.000 Euro,so if they find parking in the street it would be free.Saying that this is being done for the Sliema residence is an excuse.There are thousands of other things that could be done for the residence,but they are never accomplished.By these restrictions,you are made to park in MultiStory Parking Garages in Tigne,against payment ,of course.

Thomas Engerer

Jul 22nd 2009, 11:17

Not quite sure what the problem is.. residential parking has been in place for years in London and it works very well.. if you are a resident you can park whenever you want, if you are not you either pay or catch the bus or the tube when its working.. :S

Galea. L

Jul 22nd 2009, 10:56

H Dempster
I didn't mean to say that all Sliema residents are egoistic but those who support the system and simply wants to have reserved parking to park in front of their house when the street is public and not private property. I agree with you about residents putting up a ladder, stone box etc. This also applies to reserved parking spaces for shops where no time is mentioned and one can also find two or more shops of the same owner on opposite sides of the street having a reserved parking space in front of each shop as if one is not enough to service them all. That is why I say that all local councils should be scrapped because all they have done since their inception is to create havoc and problems for everyone while it appears that corruption may have gone down to lower levels of authority.

John Griffin

Jul 22nd 2009, 10:49

I'm curious, will the council be allocating spaces to people who live in specific streets.
Or can any resident in sliema park in any street in sliema? Why not allocate spaces to streets, allowing residents to park without limitation only in the street where they reside.

Let's take the "the rights given to residents" to extreme and instal a public car wash free of charge for all sliema residents to help these priviledged citizens through the toils and tribulations of the day.

Sarah Jane Gatt

Jul 22nd 2009, 10:41

If this is the way Sliema and various other locations are going, lets do it to all villages, and at least then the residents of other localities will suffer as much as others, on the other hand, how about a organising a decent bus schedule that runs later than 9pm, so that cars wouldn't be needed, as is, the service is inadequate for residents, and definitely useless to tourists that want to stay out later than 9pm or in some localities 8pm.

H Dempster

Jul 22nd 2009, 10:35

Although mr Galea named me as an egoistic Sliema Resident, i feel that he has a point and tend to agree with him . I have lived in Sliema for over 40 years and can state that i have never found any problem in parking my car. the reason for the restricted parking time is being introduced for one simple reason , that is, tbecause the resident must forcibly have his car or should i say cars parked infront of his front door and no where else. It is just a matter that if you dont find parking space infront of your house go and park elsewhere and walk home, after all it will do us good. On how many occasion do we find a parking space blocked with a laddar or a stone block put there by some egoistic owner. Parking should be free for all , after all we all pay a road licence to keep , drive and park pour cars throughout Malta And Gozo.

M.Triganza

Jul 22nd 2009, 10:30

Qeghdien tajjeb!! Issa kull Belt u Rahal jibda jaghmel l-istess. Diga problema fejn issieb biex tipparkja ahseb u ara b'din is-sistema. Ahna inhallsu l-licenzji biex nipparkjaw kullimkien, bi dritt!! Dejjem nohorgu b'idejat fjakki u redikoli. Ahjar il-Kunsill Lokali ta tas-Sliema jara ser jaghmel fuq il-hmieg li jhallu fit-toroq il-Maltin u l-barranin.

Galea. L

Jul 22nd 2009, 10:10

Residents have NO other rights apart from those of other citizens. The streets are PUBLIC property and not the property of the Sliema local council or Sliema residents. Everyone must defy the system and continue defying it at the highest courts because this is blatant DISCRIMINATION by local council idiots and egoistic residents.