Residents' association slams Sliema parking scheme

Joseph Ellul-Sydney

Aug 7th 2009, 00:42

@ J. Zammit.G. You think I do not know Sliema? Sliema is where I have passed most of my younger days with my local wife. I know the coastline and I love to keep it in the best it can be. BE REALISTIC. Dog shit and cats, Diesel fumes and high rise buildings, congested roads and wardens, foriegn students and graffiti. Do I need to go on. Sliema and other congested areas are in need of some real redevelopment and it takes a strong man to do it. Forget the dug pools, these are full of broken glass and the coastline is black with BBQ litter. During my frequent holidays in Malta I spend most of my time in Sliema but now the place has become tedious, melancholic and .......STINKS. There you have it... IT STINKS. Any way,on my last holiday I noted that as a car left another one took its place. Every day the same cars. This got interesting and so, being Maltese, I noted that the second car came from a garage and that in the afternoon the reverse happened. This was "Maltese Reserve Parking". Take that for ingenuity. Was this you Mr.JZG ?

Godwin Pullicino

Aug 6th 2009, 21:16

Sliema Residents Association: Sliema belongs primarily to the people who live there, and those who work there. However, it also belongs to every Maltese citizen and tourist that visits the island and spends its cash for the good of the local (i.e. Sliema) and national economy. There is one simple solution for the now acute parking problems in Sliema - though the SRA will not like it: allow the building of several multi-storey car parks. Only residents of Sliema should be allowed to park (for free) on the actual streets of Sliema. Here in the UK, within cities, only residents are permitted to park in the street; visitors have to park in car parks; and friends and family have to either park in the car parks, or pay the meter or have their hosts arrange for parking by paying for a parking card for a period of time. This is a proven system that works everywhere else in Europe - why not in Sliema? So stop moaning and whinging - start building car parks (and yes, you do need to pay somethign for your stay, nothing is free in life) and everybody may enjoy Sliema!

Jon Vercellono

Aug 6th 2009, 19:45

It would be interesting to note the number of businesses owned in Sliema by those who actually live there. If those business owners are contributing to the economy of the city and cannot vote (in Local Council Elections) and have no representation - especially on a subject which is quite important to their livelihoods - something is definitely amiss. I doubt however that the business owners' legitimate complaints (as we have seen reported to date) would end up meaning much in the larger scheme. I would especially support those business owners in that category.

Rose Agius

Aug 6th 2009, 19:32

J. Fenech, I agree with you 100% however, as usual, in Malta everything is done differently, Why cannot we learn from other countires.

c.t. busuttil

Aug 6th 2009, 19:19

@J Fenech: every major city is kept in pristine condition. Where is the similarity to ours? In my opinion it is absurd to suggest the introduction of parking meters unless we get a pay rise to match salaries of other Europeans. Like we don't pay enough fines already because problems generating from an inefficient public transport aren't tackled! That, afterall, is the source of the problem. We're just beating about the bush, solving one problem and creating another.

J Fenech

Aug 6th 2009, 18:51

Extreme problems call for extreme solutions. Thats' why parking meters remain the only viable solution - and to EVERYONE, irrispective of the address on their ID card. The vast majority of spaces are taken up by people who leave their cars there for 8hours or more at a stretch, as someone pointed out. So if they want to keep availing themselves of this privilege, they should pay for it, like they do in every major European citiy. Say the first 30 or 60 minutes will be free of charge depending on the streets and a fixed hourly fee thereafter.This will leave more space for short term visitors. This scheme can partly finance a park and ride system operating from Manoel Island. And what about boat services from Valletta? A special arrangement for motorcycles should also be in place to encourage more and more people to take to this means. We must learn that we have to pay for privileges not expect them by right to be free!

GiovDeMartino

Aug 6th 2009, 17:52

Kollox tort tal-prosperita kbira li gabilna l-gvern nazzjonalista.

Peter Sullivan

Aug 6th 2009, 13:46

I agree with most of what Claire Bonello has written.

The Residents Parking scheme is there to alleviate the problems most Sliema residents encounter every day in finding parking spaces after work.

I would have preferred a parking meter system (pay and display) for the whole of Malta as is present in most European countries. With such a system, residents would not pay in the localiy of their permanent residence, but have to pay elsewhere. Why we have to be different, as usual, only our politicians know.

Marika Brincat

Aug 6th 2009, 13:14

I am always amazed at the slimizi. Proud with their town ghax busy mbad jeqirdu ghal dak li ggib maghha. Ridtu r-rota.....ghaqdfu!!!

James Zammit Gauci

Aug 6th 2009, 12:58

@Joseph Ellul-Sydney
Give your opinion by all means as everyone is entitled to one, but get off your high horse
and do not patronise us.
It's easy to find solutions while sitting on your couch thousands of miles away but the reality on the ground is never so simple.
Take your simple idea to reclaim land for parking for example. Forget about the expense and money lost by businesses due to disruption of tourism. How about the fact that Sliema coastline is all old weather worn rock and with some pools cut out of the rock which have been there decades....No sandy beaches anywhere! to reclaim land from the sea our current coastline would be lost and replaced by what, a straight concrete coastline?

Alfred Camilleri

Aug 6th 2009, 11:21

Yves Cali - Do Local Councils nowadays go about threatening people who disagree with their decisions, however ridiculous, unpopular and discriminatory these may be?

C. Busuttil - Your dispariging of and insults directed at Sliema people are contemptable, I and my wife live in Sliema and are totally against the scheme. Many Sliema residents are also against it. Please contain yourself in your writing. After all there are so many people all over Malta who fit the 'superlatives' you showered Sliema residents with.

When all is said and done, the decision to implement Resident Parking schemes in several localities was taken by the central government. I suspect this is a half-baked attempt to bring the'lost sheep' back to the fold, especially in Sliema. It may prove to be counter productive as many of those who will be hit badly by the scheme, shopowners and their employees; business owners; office workers; hotel, restaurant and other catering establishment workers , who do not live in Sliema and are numbered in thousands may become 'lost sheep' in their turn. Not to mention those who visit Sliema for shopping,; leisure; to families and friends; doctors; lawyers and so on.

James Zammit Gauci

Aug 6th 2009, 09:29

@I.M Dingli
I realise that any system has it's pros and cons and i am certainly not so arrogant or selfish as to expect everything to be beneficial to me.
Should there be increased bills for delivery of items delivered, services etc. due to the resident parking scheme i will not be pleased but i will certainly not make a fuss over it.
After all it will probably work out cheaper then paying for the 3 or 4 yearly 23 Euro fines i recieve for parking badly, because i could not find a parking space and finally gave up after fifteen minutes of circling round the blocks near my house along with another 5 or 6 cars all looking for parking like some demented game of musical parking spaces.
As for the reserved parking spaces, Sliema's population as we all know has a large percentage of elderly people and some of these are sick or too frail to walk far, so one must understand them being given reserved parking. There are abuses of the system it's true but it is a small part of a large problem and hopefully will also be tackled in good time.

c.t. busuttil

Aug 6th 2009, 09:16

KINDLY NOTE THAT I AM NOT THE C BUSUTTIL who has written so negatively below. I appreciate the initiatives of the SLIEMA RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION although I am not sure what it is they are proposing. I believe we should restrict our comments to being pro-active and suggesting solutions if we are capable, rather than attacking a newly-formed group of volunteers who have felt the need to set up an association to protect our home-town. It is good to see that people have at least reacted to their Press Release. We can do much more to help.

Joseph Ellul-Sydney

Aug 6th 2009, 04:10

@blog. I have read all your .......bitching. Stop cutting up the island. Stop demolishing houses to build units. Stop all this high rise developments. These only augment your problems. The Maltese do not want to pay for the parking, actually they do not want to PAY. So why would you build underground parking stations? Most people come to Sliema, St. Julians etc to be near the sea and for the night life. RIGHT? But there is no parking near the sea. That is the problem. All you have to do is to get those lazy politicians to spend some money on sea filling. Make car parks out of the sea. Just stop ruining Valletta. Nobody owns the sea so the land value will cost nothing to develop. Do you know that Sydney airport is almost all reclaimed? This is the biggest money spinner for the Australian Government. Got the idea?

E. Azzopardi

Aug 6th 2009, 01:20

C. Busuttil
We have now come to the stage where you are insulting all Sliema residents, even those who are on your side and do not want this scheme. Can't you insert a blog without insulting people? Yes, you are so right. We need a good thorough campaign in education. You are so right . Please do Sliema residents a favour and stay out of the way if you envy them so much.
I.M. Dingli
Sliema has around 128 streets and 80 of those are being restricted ONLY ON ONE SIDE, then the space allowed to residents is much less than the 63% and it works out well below 50%

C.Busuttil

Aug 5th 2009, 16:28

@I M Dingli

The point is that Sliema should have no local council, its useless by any means, any construction contractor can bully himself on this spineless council. To be honest the problems facing the Sliema council is a task beyond the selection of candidates we are given or better imposed by our poltical parties. Sliema needs people that have the locality at heart, that love Sliema and not just a place to live in. People that know the problems this locality is facing and not only parking problems.
A much needed campaign to educate, ironically the educated, on the sense of civic mindedness that is so lacking in Sliema is needed. People in Sliema are egoistic, snobbish, arrogant and selfish. It wasn't always so, once Sliema was very different it was a pleasure to walk through the streets with all those elegant town houses andpeople were friendly and helpful, Now all we've got is a monster ugly town with selfish occupiers who have no love or respect for what was once the most beautiful town in Malta. People that are so lazy that don't even park their cars in their garages and cheekly complain about parking.

I M Dingli

Aug 5th 2009, 15:35

E. Azzopardi

Sliema has about 128 streets in total, thus if parking restriction is being introduced in 80 streets, the Local Council is telling everyone that 63% of Sliema is for the Slimizi only. That is discrimination.

If Slimizi were short sighted when they bought a house in the locality, I cannot be restricted just to accomodate their needs. You want to dictate the market when it comes to selling private property and now you also expect monopoly on your streets.

E. Azzopardi

Aug 5th 2009, 14:11

I. M. Dingli
Sliema is so much larger than Ta Xbiex. There are so many more streets (than the 80) which have not been touched at all.
L. Galea
If Sliema residents are selfish and egoistic, then, according to you, the citizens in all other localities which have the scheme are also selfish and egoistic. I really do not think so.
I reiterate. If other Maltese citizens have the right of a parking scheme in their locality, and many have had it for years, Sliema residents have the same sacrosant and blessed right.
No question about that. This is what many who are complaining cannot or do not want to understand. If this system is no good, (which is debatable) then it should be removed from ALL OVER the country.
But to deny it to a section of the CITIZENS, then this is really the DISCRIMINATION many are talking about.
.

C. Busuttil

Aug 5th 2009, 13:36

@Ives Cali
As usual the Sliema local council which I style Disaster Council, is out of touch living in a world of their own, instead of wasting time on this useless scheme, you should concentrate on stopping the destruction of what's left of Sliema. This town is a shadow of itself, once it was pleasure to live in Sliema, It once boomed with all sorts of activities now only construction activity takes place. The soul of this town is dead.
Besides the Sliema Disaster Council should keep an eye on those who have a garage and instead park their cars(note plural) in the streets. Typically the lazy/nonchalant/ no sense of civic mindedness mentality that has been introduced by people that came along with the new appartments.

Besides Mr. Cali if the Sliema Disaster Council has had such a controversial begining as they say in Italian "Il buongiorno si vede dal mattino" God Help Us

I M Dingli

Aug 5th 2009, 13:10

@ James Zammit Gauci

I hope that whenever you’ll need services from a third party / private company, you will not complain if there will be an extra charge on your bill to cover fines or extra hassle incurred to find a parking.

If you want to take the matter up with someone, you should ask your Local Council to investigate all the reserved parking places around Sliema area.

George Casha

Aug 5th 2009, 12:54

The first thing that has to be done and with the utmost urgency is to control the importation of more vehicles. We have already gone past the saturation point and it's all going downhill from here on. Very little vehicles are taken off the road each year and they are soon replaced by thousands of new registrations. As far as I know, nobody from any political party has even spoken about this huge problem let alone try to do something about it. I remember some years back Mr. Angelo Xuereb proposing an Underground Metro but his idea was scoffed at by the PN. It’s no wonder that they have not even come close to provide a decent public transport after 22 years in power!. Well, maybe when the Ministers get tired waiting in traffic jams inside their expensive cars, they maybe, just maybe, something will start rolling. Why do we always have to be a Nation of " too little, too late " for the rest of our lives?

John Agius

Aug 5th 2009, 12:47

Re Two Wheeler option: Safety first - With the recent unfortunate accidents involving two wheelers one should think twice. Safety driving is not one of Malta's virtues and I would not recommend to those I love most. Appropriate planning is the solution here. We need to plan well, provide the necessary open spaces and most of all the transport issue which many times is totally ignored. e.g. the fact that we still build garages on the main road is limiting parking spaces. Perhaps underground garages can be a solutions when planners are willing to listen. My experience with planners is 'they know it all" or "they want to please everybody but the environment" and the rest is not important. I am sure that one they we will learn; the problem is: Would that be too late? As always. Sorry to be this pessimistic, but ....

J Bezzina

Aug 5th 2009, 12:10

What Malta needs is less cars on the roads, and more 2 wheelers. The vast majority of cars on the road (which can seat 5 persons) are seen running with only the driver aboard. The government should give BIG incentives to people who use or will consider buying a motorbike or scooter, such as FREE road licence and REDUCED insurance premiums. Remember, ONE CAR PARKING SPACE WILL TAKE FOUR BIKES easily. I understand that it is not always possible to use a motorbike for certain things such as shopping, but if they are used by people to go to work for example, the difference on the roads would be enormous.

Jon Vercellono

Aug 5th 2009, 12:10

It would be helpful to know exactly the proportion of private automobiles to individual residences in Sliema. Is the average 5 to 1 - or 4 to 1 or something more reasonable? As for Msida - I drop off my family - hope to park near the house and if not - I find a place and walk back (no harm done in walking).

James Zammit Gauci

Aug 5th 2009, 11:47

the authorities cannot please everyone and the reality is that non residents will obviously not be happy with any scheme that limits their parking rights.
However like it or not, residents will always be given preference when the supply of parking places greatly outnumbers the demand and this for three main reasons.
firstly, residents are the ones who actually live and have invested in the area,both financially and in time spent trying to make the area a better place for all, secondly residents are the ones who vote in council elections for that same area and thirdly, in my opinion most imortant of the three is that the vast majority of people who come to Sliema do not come to work in Sliema but for recreation which means they have the choice to do like i have done many a time when visiting places like Bugibba in summer and go somewhere else if they can't park. Residents do not have this luxury as we all must go home.
Real selfishness is expecting to have the same rights to limited parking as residents just so you can come whenever you feel like, while residents have no choice but to go home.

John Agius

Aug 5th 2009, 09:39

Well! Well done to Mepa for the excellent planning policies for Malta particularly the Sliema residents. MEPA restructuring plan please note!!

Joseph ellul

Aug 5th 2009, 05:40

In Australia, which is quite large they are reclaiming land. In Arab lands they are reclaiming land. In Malta we are making mountians from rubbish and as always relying on our politicians to do something about it. The north east coast of Malta is relatively shallow and can ce reclaimed to a certian extent without damaging the envirnment. There can be advantages by using the sea currents to built up naturally occuring beaches. The reclaimed land can be used for car parks during the day and some summer activities too. These areas can be allocated all around the NE coast. If you plan for the long term you will get great financial profit and tourism will flourish. Just send a couple of politicians on a junket to some arab states that already have the system in place. Make Malta bigger not swiss cheese.

Peter Gatt

Aug 5th 2009, 00:07

@ W Arciola, why not join the SRA and voice your opinion and lend a hand to the newly forming association as many other Sliema residents are doing. To subscribe send your particulars to sliemaresidentsa@gmail.com

@ C Bonello & J Borg. PLEASE re-read the press release. It is not opposing the idea…but will not solve the traffic and parking problems in Sliema

@ C. Camilleri… TOTALLY WRONG. Although SRA is still in the making, its hard working provisional committee has been democratically appointed following a call for a public meeting last May which was attended by a good number of Sliema residents. One of the aims of SRA is to provide a voice for sliema residents after being abused and raped for the last 2-3 decades.

Yves Cali. Very unfair to comment in that way re SRA committee members. I do hope that your intentions are not malicious!! especially after reading Mr M. Attard's comments! and reading your recent blogs!

Galea. L

Aug 4th 2009, 22:31

Robert Scullion
I shall not allow anyone to trample on my rights whoever they are, be it local counselors or mayors idiots or arrogant local residents who are egoistic. No one has any right to have part of the road or street reserved for him because they are PUBLIC not private property. Its not spite Scullion but MY RIGHTS which I have a right to defend.

yves cali
I did that in other areas and won it hands down on all occasions and if I have the occasion you can rest assured that I shall do it again in Sliema and take the case up in court if necessary. I won't allow idiot local counselors and mayors to trample on MY RIGHTS yves.

Michael Neville Cassar

Aug 4th 2009, 22:02

I disagree with all resident parking schemes all over Malta and Gozo because it showed from the start that the system will back fire (a) due to every day human movement to and from place of work (b) relatives visiting their families in need, (c) the business such as restaurants bars people cannot be given a time to finish a meal or coffee etc. At the end what one is asking that everyone remain in his home town. The simplest thing is when someone move you park, until such time parking areas are build. Also to ADT all reserved parking should at least pay Euro1300 per year.

Mark Attard

Aug 4th 2009, 20:43

As far as I can recall Yves Cali you have stood for everything that most Sliema resident's have argued against in these last few years. You were all for Tigne Midi and the monster at Fort Cambridge,You did nothing but write to the papers in support of these projects and against the wishes of the majority of the Sliema residents. For you the party in power walked on hallowed ground and you were blind to all the obcenities taking place. If this is the attitude you mean to adopt as a councillor in the next couple of years,then I can't see you getting re-elected. You only just scraped in this time anyway.

Robert Scullion

Aug 4th 2009, 20:07

@Galea. L

So now you are attacking people who just want to be able to park within a resonable distance to their home. You endless spite knows no ends.

Pierre Mangion

Aug 4th 2009, 19:49

i agree with the idea of the scooters, nevertheless one has also to consider the danger posed by the negligent egositic motor vehicle drivers who have no respect for anyone using the same stretch of road.

park and ride systems should be also good if they are kept running to the minute (ie punctual);
car parks - this is the best idea of all. why are the authorities allowing for development in our islands without requesting that the developments provide ample parking at least for the future tenents. and i don't mean selling the parking spaces at exhorbitant prices but making sure that these are included within the price of the property.

parking meters would be great - imagine you would have the first five minutes free - ample time to unload any personal shopping. anyone needing to stay longer would be required to pay.

yves cali

Aug 4th 2009, 19:31

As far as i recall, some people forming the Residents' Association were among those to increase the height of their properties in Tigne for personal gain. As for a number of the people writing here, well perhaps if you got your facts right it would help. As one of the idiots forming the Local Council, I challenge L. Galea to park his/her vehicle unlawfully once the scheme comes into force and he/she will find how wrong he/she is in stating that there is discrimination and who the idiot really is. Finally, Claire Bonello - well said, we have finally found common ground where we can agree upon.

Joseph Galea

Aug 4th 2009, 18:53

With uncontrolled private car ownership and developments that do not take into account the number of cars that they generate we have sown the wind. Now we are reaping the storm. And not only in Sliema but throughout Malta. Things will only become worse.

We must start thinking outside of the box. Everyone takes cars and more cars for granted. Perhaps the solution is not to make it easier for cars but much more difficult, to the extent that people will start giving up their cars. Wishful thinking at this stage but eventually it will happen when things get much worse, as they are bound to do. Maybe the resident parking scheme is not a bad idea after all if it makes owning a car a major headache.

I M Dingli

Aug 4th 2009, 18:43

@ D. Farrugia

With reference to your last question, these regulations are still in pratice but MEPA gives developers the option of paying a fine for not including parking spaces/garages in their plans. MEPA doesn't bother about not having enough parking spaces for residents, all it sees is the income from fines. Kuntenti MEPA u Developer....kuntent kullhadd!!

D.Farrugia

Aug 4th 2009, 17:40

I think that this parking problem is being felt in every town and village around Malta.In B'Bugia it is the same problem when visiting my relatives or going to work.There are two problems that I think have to be tackled.First the public transport has to be there to the public not the other way round.Who uses public transport and has to catch 2 buses knows what I'm saying.The other problem I think is Mepa.Why demolish a house,build a block of flats with not enough garages or car spaces?When I built my house in the 80's,I wasn't given the permit if I didn't have a garage and a well for rainwater.Are these regulations still in practise?

P Debono

Aug 4th 2009, 17:24

@ David Buttigieg

I disagree with your opinion that because we are a small country the idea of an underground network is impossible.

I can go on forever mentioning the most densely populated small countries in the world with an underground network. But these countries are developed and Malta is not. That is what it boils down to.

S. Camilleri

Aug 4th 2009, 17:13

@d.attard
You must understand that when the authorities say 'not feasible' , in reality most of the time they actually mean 'No Hope on Earth that we can afford it'!!!

Richard Curmi

Aug 4th 2009, 16:34

Dear Noel Galea,
Notice how the comments keep being written and no one says anything about using a scooter. How we can alleviate the parking problem and the high pollution we are creating for our children. Unfortunately our nation is made mostly of couch potatoes, with no guts at all and need all the comfort they can get their hands on. For most, a motor scooter is a dangerous thing and never give it a second thought.. They have no idea how life can become so easy going in our chaotic roads. I pass through traffic clogged roads and see most cars with a driver only, I just laugh at them, seeing them all tensed up with road rage at a high point.

@Claire Bonello,
You said
“Certain localities deserve different treatment because of different circumstances” then you go and mention just Sliema ,Valletta and Paceville, and what about Mosta, Hamrun, Paola, Birkirkara, Bugiba, Fgura, Marsascala, Birzebugia, and so on,haven`t all these towns have their own problem.The residential parking scheme is just an egoistic law, nothing more nothing less.

I M Dingli

Aug 4th 2009, 16:17

@ E. Azzopardi

The difference lies in the simple fact that Valletta has a 'park and ride' system as well as the MCP car park for commuters thus alleviating the problems caused to non residents. Ta Xbiex and other localities have resident parking schemes in maybe 5 to 10 roads in total while Sliema sees it fit to enforce the parking scheme in 80 roads.... I repeat 80 roads. What do you think about that?

I understand the problem you have but this isn’t a solution, time will tell!!

John Borg

Aug 4th 2009, 16:05

L. Galea: the list of people that you call idiots grows every day. At this rate, pretty soon everyone will be an idiot except you which surely does not say much for your intellect. How about some humility and respect for other people's opinion for a change?

c. camilleri

Aug 4th 2009, 15:30

When will this farce of a couple of persons forming organisations/associations (called them what you like) trying to dictate things end? Nobody has elected these people so they only speak for themselves. Calling themselves associations/organisations is just to inflate their presence which is none.

d.attard

Aug 4th 2009, 15:25

@David Buttigieg

Brescia's 'metropolitan' area has about 600,000 inhabitants.

Work is in progress on an automated 18 km long light metro, 5.8 km will be in a deep tunnel 900 m will be just under the surface and the remaining 11.3 km will be on a viaduct. The system, referred to as Metrobus, is expected to open next year.

I understand that Maltese authorities have said that a metro system is not feasable in Malta. I have seen no workngs to support this claim that refers to one of the mostly densely populated areas in the world.

smifsud

Aug 4th 2009, 15:16

i just want to say i sympathize with everyone concerned but the root cause is to many flats were built in sliema and the population is bursting at the seams and no underground parking lots were built to accomodate the population explotion in sliema and malta for that matter ....Malta is only so big that we are at the max right now ...after this it will be a challenge to keep things running smootly .....to many in a tiny place .....thats Malta ....we need to control developement ...But the only solution is to Implement a policy that only ODD number plates drive Mondays whensday and friday and even number plates drive on Tuesday thursday and saturday and making sunday all drive day ....and this will rotate to change every week were even numbers and odds the next ....any comments are welcome ....thanks

Galea. L

Aug 4th 2009, 14:47

James Zammit Gauci
Whatever the problem the authorities cannot try to solve it by discriminating against other citizens. As for the prices, well as you live in Sliema property has gone up in price like everywhere else but more so and if you sell it you will be able to get more money for it. So if you buy a garage you will make more profit if you sell it later on. As I said, the roads are PUBLIC not private property. One of the solutions would be for any new building to have several floors underneath for parking spaces or garages which people living in Sliema may be able to rent or buy like the rest of us do in other parts of the Island. As for paying, do you expect workers who work in Sliema to forgo part of their wages to pay for parking or those who do their shopping to also pay for parking?

J Oatmon
What happens in other cities is of no concern to us. Other cities people also have a lot more money than we do in Malta. See my comments to James Zammit Gauci.

I M Dingli

Aug 4th 2009, 14:25

@ James Zammit Gauci

You should raise your matter with MEPA since they are the ones who ruined your beloved Sliema after they issued permits left, right and centre without any consideration for parking. Private development has lead to this but MEPA didn't deem fit to enforce the developers to sell their flats on the condition that at least a garage or garage space is left vacant with every house.

Anyway, in a sudden panic state, ADT is discriminating in favour of Sliema residents, as if Sliema is for the Slimizi only!! I'm sorry but this is unacceptable and very short sighted especially since those areas within Sliema which have been omitted from the resident parking scheme will be overcrowded, thus shifting the problem to those areas..... what next..... ???

E. Azzopardi

Aug 4th 2009, 14:15

Nobody lifted a finger when residential parking schemes cropped up in other towns or villages. But now that Sliema has it, all hell broke loose!!! Sliema must be very important.
Will somebody refute that Sliema residents have the same rights as other residents of towns or villages which have adopted the same blessed system? Nobody can. Definitely not.
Now, we can bring one thousand arguments, about workers, shops etc and I suppose they are valid. I will not REFUTE that. But the most important stakeholders of Sliema are ITS RESIDENTS, as everywhere else after all.
Now, when somebody in authority decides to remove ALL resident parking schemes in Malta for some valid reason, THEN SO BE IT . But until then, Sliema and any other town or village, have the same right as the ones which have introduced it. It stands to reason.
On the other hand, reading this press release, confuses me a little, because it does confirm in more than one instance that Sliema residents are having such a bad time as regards parking, even if it is ten minutes away from home, never mind in front of their home!!!!

Graham Crocker

Aug 4th 2009, 14:08

The buildings in Sliema cannot continue to rise without taking care of the side effects.
The solution isn't some 'holistic' magic spell.

The solution is simple: CVA and a multi-story car park that doesn't cost the world.
They bring down so many buildings, they might as well bring down 1 more building and build a 14 level (with underground) car park.
I think the CVA in Valletta worked well, I always find parking in Valletta in the evenings, or for short periods during the day and when I'm going for a long time, I just park in Floriana and bus it. The same could be applied to Sliema.
I also like Paul Barrett 's Land reclamation idea, I mean if a bunch of men wearing white dresses can build the Dubai World Islands, I'm sure we can do the same with space for parking.

James Zammit Gauci

Aug 4th 2009, 13:40

@ Galea L
As a long time Sliema resident, i can assure u that noone who lives in Sliema expects to park in front of his door. However we do expect to be able park somewhere within a reasonable distance and within a reasonable time span. At certain times parking at all is simply impossible and one has to park badly and then go out again later to park properly. In the mean time, to add insult to injury the boys in blue sometimes pass by and fine us 23.00 Euros. Our crime.... simply trying to go home!
I don' t understand your logic, u say car parks, meters etc. are not fair or affordable by most motorists and yet in the same breath u expect Sliema residents to all buy or rent garages. Do u have any idea how much garages in Sliema cost to buy or rent? Besides the idea being ludicrous maybe u can tell us where we are meant to indeed find all these garages as old Sliema has precious few.
Bottom line we are only trying to get home in peace, within a reasonable time and distance and without getting fined for the "privilage".

john borg

Aug 4th 2009, 12:59

I never expected the SRA to be so destructive without making valid suggestions of how we, the long suffering workers, could find a parking space after we return from our place of work having gone through the ordeal of going round in circles for considerable durations. One must also point out, that thanks to the Valletta parking scheme, I for one, am barred to park in Valletta unless I pay through my nose. The only alternative is to walk a mile in this horrific heat. Please do not tell me the Park and Ride is an alternative. If Valletta residents have a right to have their parking slots, so do the Sliema residents. If the SRA association is serious enough, they should come out with valid alternatives please.

J Oatmon

Aug 4th 2009, 12:58

@ Galea. L

Your comments are your opinion, and my comments are my opinion - supported by the facts.
The situation in all congested cites in the world (whether you like it or not) is, you park, you pay, meters or car parks, that is a fact of life, and not egoistic.
Forty years ago we did not need parking meters, but now we do, so that everyone gets a fair share of available parking, and everyone pays, no special cases, no exceptions - everyone pays to park in congested areas.

Claire Bonello

Aug 4th 2009, 12:53

@ J Dalli - and please note that I never asked for reserved parking. That was a rhetorical question.

Claire Bonello

Aug 4th 2009, 12:51

@ J Dalli - Certain localities deserve different treatment because of different circumstances. Most of the cars parked in Valletta, Sliema, and Paceville belong to people who come from outside those towns. Barring the people who work in these towns, those other drivers have a choice as to whether they visit Valletta, Sliema or Paceville. The residents have no choice.....they have to park somewhere ....and believe me, it's not outside their door but some three streets away. So taking their particular situations into consideration deserves some merit. And no - I do not object to paying tax and then having parking schemes in different localities (not my own) - a bit of empathy with people who cannot approach their homes or park remotely close to them (because of the influx of outside drivers - should be forthcoming.

Paul Barrett

Aug 4th 2009, 12:38

How about using the construction waste to reclaim more land from the sea and also act as a further barrier for the sea when it is rough and still swamps the Sliema front. This would add several hundred new car parking spaces and relieve some of the pressure on both residents and business.

In the meantime, I personally will continue to avoid shopping or eating out in the Sliema area as it is just not worth the hassle.

Galea. L

Aug 4th 2009, 12:34

J Oatmon, James Grech, D Vella and the rest
We pay more than enough taxes as it is without suggestions for further taxes like parking meters and private parking. NO ONE has a right to appropriate in front of his house or any part of a PUBLIC road/street for his own private use. So stop making suggestion which would entail more expenditure by drivers. If you can afford to pay more the vast number of other drivers cannot do so. If you want to have no problem with your parking buy or rent a garage or parking space in a garage. Please note that I and many others consider your ideas as idiotic, egoistic and discriminatory and shall defy them at every occasion that arises as I have already done. I shall not allow you or your local council idiots to solve your problem by discriminating against me.

Noel Galea

Aug 4th 2009, 12:31

The only real solution to solve the nightmarish parking problem in Malta is to promote in a REAL manner the use of scooters, ie mopeds widely used here in Milan where I live. Persons from all walks of life, be they lawyers, bankers, executives etc. use this efficient means of transportation. Funny in Malta is still seems that riding a scooter to work is deemed as a statement that one is of the lower class. Unfortunately in Malta this prevails as there exists the poor mentality that a car, especially a flashy one, gives you status!! Nibki......

J Callus

Aug 4th 2009, 12:31

How about another Park N Ride... as from next week?

J.Dalli

Aug 4th 2009, 12:29

@C. Bonello

RE> it's a question of them being able to access their homes with shopping, children etc. What would you have them do? Plead with whoever is in charge for a reserved parking place?

You assume, that Sliema resident will park in front of their home or that the street wont be fully taken up by other sliema residents.

I think, you have a right to park anywhere in Paceville, as I do in Sliema, because you pay the same taxes I do - fair is fair!

@John Falzon.
1-2 seat car is irrelevent, you can also own a bike, but still not allowed to park there since you're not a Sliema resident. The law says residents, not size of car. C. Bonello says ,she wants to have access to her house (reserved parking, under a different name insomma) and doesn't care which size of car/bike you drive. I wonder how the rest of Malta (Bugibba for example) access their homes? Shall we introduce reserved parking schemes in every town and village in Malta (its only fair I suppose)?

Would Sliema residents be calling for special permits for their next of kin now?

Anthony Grech

Aug 4th 2009, 12:26

@Darren Mercieca.
'The main reason why we have this traffic problem in Sliema is because people opt to use their own car instead of the inefficient, sloppy, polluting, and rude public transportation service Malta has to offer.'
WELL SAID DARREN.... BUT THIS APPLIES TO ALL MALTA AND GOZO.

David Buttigieg

Aug 4th 2009, 12:20

@P Debono,

Your idea is nice in theory but impossible in practice. Underground transport are only feasable in cities with MILLIONS of inhabitants who use it every day. Remember it has to be cheap for consumers to use it.

What investor would pump that much money in to something that would be used by a measly 300000 - 400000 people a day (and that's wildly optimistic)? About 3 MILLION people a day use the London underground which is rather different!

Ofcourse the government could fund it but get ready for a HUGE increase in taxes.

K Camilleri

Aug 4th 2009, 12:19

@ P. Debono!

You are 1,000,000% CORRECT! I agree with you that a proper underground would solve the huge transport issues in this country. However, there is a much bigger problem.

A: It would cost a fortune to build and considering the speed at which we maltese build projects (see Mater Dei), it would probably be completed after the next visit of the Dinosaurs.

B: Geology is another problem. Undergrounds are build in cities where there is no huge difference in the terrain. In Malta, the terrain is always chaging, hence it would be difficult say an underground rail between Mosta and Bugibba. Apart from that one has to keep in mind the water table.

These are the main problems. However, I agree with you that it would be a great solution to the always increasing problem. Parking is not a sliema only problem. Going forward, localities like Mosta, Naxxar, Qormi, where everybody is building flats, parking would also become a nightmare

P Debono

Aug 4th 2009, 12:05

I've been saying this for at least 5 years now, and have been ridiculed wherever I went. But now it seems these stupid critics are eating their words... Anyway, the only way to go is a network of public transport deep underground, just like every civilised, developed country in the world.

But obviously it would be stupid to call Malta a civilised and developed country, despite what all the do-gooders say.

John Falzon

Aug 4th 2009, 11:59

In my humble opinion the only real solution is small 1-2 person cars, which have to be sold at such a competitive price that they make sense to consumers. This means either that an importer agrees that the many sales x lower profit formula makes sense (also considering the incresed amount of spare parts & service calls generated), or else the Government subsidises such cars (unlikely). We all know that such small 1-2 person cars exist even locally, but unfortunately they are still too expensive when compared to a traditional car..

Darren Mercieca

Aug 4th 2009, 11:54

The main reason why we have this traffic problem in Sliema is because people opt to use their own car instead of the inefficient, sloppy, polluting, and rude public transportation service Malta has to offer.

Paul Bezzina

Aug 4th 2009, 11:54

The only feasable solution to this problem is another park and ride system like that already existing for Valletta while in the long term the construction of a metro which takes you to the centre without the need to worry about parking should be considered; connecting Sliema to the major built areas namely Valletta, Mosta, Birkirkara, Rahal Gdid. Later this system could be extended to Zejtun, Rabat and St. Paul's Bay. Residential parking schemes do not solve any problems except for the very short term by hiding the real problem. The simple idea of just having to visit Sliema for a stroll gives me the jitters due to this problem of parking.

J Oatmon

Aug 4th 2009, 11:46

There is only one solution real to this problem, since 'public transport' is a 'non runner' in this day and age, and people do not want to rely on others.

For Sliema and other places either we build up (multi storey car parks) or down (multi level underground car parks), and we use parking meters on the streets to get a faster traffic turnover, and a fairer share of available street space.

Any other 'solution' which tries to limit personal transport will fail - such as 'every one on nice clean cheap efficient public transport' - this has failed everywhere in the world, and is not used by nearly everyone, except about 15% of the public (it's a niche market only). Super advanced countires like Germany and Japan have failed to entice people onto public transport, even with the best possible 'nice clean cheap efficient public transport.'

The car will not go away, and time does not run backwards - we have to face a world with more and more cars - that is an undeniable fact of life. So we need a 25 year plan, we need to build roads and car parks to handle the cars.

James Grech

Aug 4th 2009, 11:35

Given the proportion of this situation, why not resort to using something similar to what we now have in Valletta? A suitable park and ride system for the Sliema context, combined with a CVA system.

D Vella

Aug 4th 2009, 11:32

One immediate though not long term solution, would be to introduce parking meters. This will go a long way toward stopping people parking there for 8/10 hours at a stretch whilst they sit comfortably in their offices. It is they who cause the most problems rather than the short term parkers who come to shop. As for all the other excuses,that is exactly what they are.In other Cities all over the world, an excuse ,such as visiting parents is not entertained at all.If the need is such exists,they can can pay to park or catch a bus.

Claire Bonello

Aug 4th 2009, 11:16

I'm quite surprised at the reaction of the Sliema Residents Association. As a resident of Sliema, I would think the residents' parking scheme would allievate (not solve) the problem for residents who have to try and squeeze their vehicle in any space left vacant after the cranes, visitors, garage spaces and thousands of reserved parking spaces have been accounted for. All the squawking about discriminatory taxes is just that.....I find no objection to the Valletta parking scheme or the one in Paceville, because I realise that the residents there (as in Sliema) have to put up with exceptionally trying circumstances (massive influx of drivers who are non-resident). It is not a question of these residents wanting to park in front of their door - it's a question of them being able to access their homes with shopping, children etc. What would you have them do? Plead with whoever is in charge for a reserved parking place? Of course, it would be better if we had a holistic parking plan for the island....but we couldn't even get an emission alert scheme to work, how on earth do you think we're going to have a holistic scheme....ever?

J Micallef

Aug 4th 2009, 11:15

No more sliema for me, or my family. sorry... this parking scheme is just another illegal tax which only serves to fill the coffers.

walter arciola

Aug 4th 2009, 11:12

how can the assosiation speak on behalf of sliema residents ?if they are not asking all sliema people .i live in pace str and its a very very big problem to park so how come the assosiation speak with us too or maybe they are speaking only for there interests only or who knows for something else!!! all this fuss the same scheme exists already in malta including valletta in never heard of some one complaining!! so mr mayor go on with this scheme we need it urgent

Patrick Mifsud

Aug 4th 2009, 11:07

How about a permanent 'park & ride' system for Sliema, using either Luxol and/or Manoel Island as parking bases, on the same lines as the Valletta system, which has been working very well. Perhaps even at a nominal fee, to compensate for the absence of a CVA system like that used for Valletta which would not make sense for Sliema ...

Ernest Vella

Aug 4th 2009, 11:05

I think the Local Council only solution is to take a public land and with the help of the goverment build a car park with multi-levels as we find in many European cities eg. Rome, London, Dublin and even in Lourdes, I was amazed seeing such building which solves parking problems. Why in Malta we still have the idea that parking is only in the roads? For example new buildings must be bind with the law to have a garage build within the structure so the residents will park inside and parking problems will be decreased

adrian agius

Aug 4th 2009, 11:00

Is there a possibility for a 'Park and Ride' scheme that leaves from Luxol grounds, going down from paceville and st.julian's, round sliema and back to luxol grounds? If there is a shuttle of lets say every 5 minutes with different stops i think it should solve the problem.
I know that now i will get negative blogs for my idea but i think that's the only sollution because it will reduce parking problems in St.Julian's as well.

Edwin Caruana

Aug 4th 2009, 10:59

Still believe this parking for residence by law is illegal, as the court sentence did say that this law is discriminating against especially those citizens who do not enjoy the privilaged residents parking system.

J Farrugia

Aug 4th 2009, 10:57

Dear Sliema residents association, can you give us a workable plan how to solve this parking situation? All parties are right in their c;laims. Reisdents are right in the fact that when they come back from work they should not fight it out to have a parking space near as much as possible their homes, visitors are right when they say they need to visit their relatives (old people, sick and aged) and parking is a big headache for them, the shopkeepers are right when they say that their businesses are taking a big bite and no one wants to buy from their shops since there is no adequate parking. How can your council, your association, the government solve this big problem? Any ideas mates? But something surely must be done.

joe attard

Aug 4th 2009, 10:56

The midi and gap sky scrapers should not be built primarily to avoid these companies or their misguided investors to go bankrupt secondly so as not to cause a casatrophy in the water, electricity, drainage,traffic, parking, noise pollution, air pollution and human overcrowding situations already highly stressed in Sliema.

R. C Conti

Aug 4th 2009, 10:52

I cannot deny the fact that there are traffic and parking problems concerning Sliema but to implement a parking scheme without providing any alternative will not solve the current issues but will make the problems even worse.

Steve Sant

Aug 4th 2009, 10:52

People already refuse to come to Sliema to do maintenance works and if they do they usually double park till they offload or take the bus. Visitors (when they dare try visit) would rather meet elsewhere and the amount of reserved boxes are ever on the increase. What on earth next? . Always the problem, never the solution. Yes a solution there is, dig down. Many projects are going up, so dig deep and make multi storey car park with 20 floors down (where possible of course).

G.Debono

Aug 4th 2009, 10:51

in 25 years time, sliema residents will call for their council not to allow any non sliema resident driving from sliema streets during rush hours because they will complain that they are waiting too long in traffic. They will also ask the council not to allow any non resident from going on the front after 5 pm, because they arent finding any seats to sit on or enough space to walk.
A Joke? Think again, 25 years ago we would have burst out in laughter had anyone considered parking schemes in TINY Malta, an area much smaller than London, where people constantly travel from town to town.

Parking schemes are a national disgrace and dicrimante between people who pay the same road taxes. Furthermore, the residents act childlishly, by parking in parking areas available for non residents, and leaving the residents parking empty. All this purposely, so that they have double the space to park in.