Joseph Matthew Muscat, Sliema
In search of the perfect Sliema parking scheme
The ongoing quest to achieve the perfect Sliema residential parking scheme has now long been in the papers, where with every modification to improve, another hitch comes into sight.
The fact that all of Sliema roads are proposed to be converted into a residential parking zone will work well for me (a Sliema resident), but the shops and offices must not be forgotten.
Therefore a permit, that may be acquired from the Sliema local council, should be issued for the community who work in Sliema.
A permit allowing the holder to park from 7.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. (average office working hours) and another allowing parking up until 7.30 p.m. (average closing time of shops) would allow the Sliema residents coming home from work after 5 or 7 p.m. to find a reasonable amount of free parking space.
As for customers who come to Sliema to shop and have a relaxing day, whether it's at shops, cafés or beaches, they would be able to park in a centralised car park where a similar system to the park and ride scheme may be implemented, where the fees collected may go to improve Sliema's roads as suggested by the Sliema local council.
As for customers coming to Sliema for a service in shops established in the core of Sliema, the two-hour parking restriction will be more than enough to buy groceries or keep a hair appointment.
This system may also have many hitches but it may be a step closer to the perfect Sliema residential parking scheme.
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A. Mallia
Aug 20th 2009, 22:35
Joseph Matthew Muscat seems to have overlooked the fact that many Sliema residents - especially those who have lived there for decades - have children and grandchildren who may wish to visit them for longer than two hours at a time.
Would he suggest a permit be issued for them too? .Be realistic - there is no real solution to the problem.
Galea. L
Aug 20th 2009, 21:25
Joseph M Muscat
The parking problem is EVERYWHERE Joseph.
By the way it does not sound discriminatory. It is.
M.Caruana
Aug 20th 2009, 20:39
@Joseph M Muscat
Hang on Mr. Muscat, I live in Marsascala, the Sliema of the south in terms of parking problems. We've got the sea where people come swimming at, the bars & Cafes, shops, the very popular (the island over) restaurants, the prominade where people enjoy a healthy walk, and the like. We've got a major parking problem - come after 4pm any day and you'll see.
Thing is - being fair and paying tax as much as my fellow Maltesers, I would never personally call on my council or government (remember we've got the Prime and the Pressie from 'ere) to set up reserved parking schemes. Really, I paid through my nose for my house but nowhere in the contract does it state that I own the road, does yours ? If I am charged say €1000 road tax over and above yours - then jolly good, yes, I would expect reserved parking. This is pure and simple discrimination amongst the citizens of these islands. Marsascala is not mine, I live there. Sliema is not yours - you live there.
The health authorities call for healthy walking - it seems for Sliemizi only though ?!
Joseph M Muscat
Aug 20th 2009, 19:46
Galea. L.
I can understand your point, but we must not be petty in saying that if it is done in Sliema it must be done everywhere. The problem is in Sliema and a few other places. My opinion may be biased but from the scheme everyone will benefit as both residents and non-resident will be able to park easier. There must not be my town and your town. Malta’s so small that we must not divide, but unite and work together to improve. We must see the bigger picture, and priorities needs before wants. That is the ideal way but unfortunately it is not the Maltese way.
I M Dingli
Aug 20th 2009, 18:56
@ Joseph M Muscat / Claire Bonello
No matter what arguments you bring about, this scheme is discriminatory, period.
If you think parking schemes will solve the matter, than you’re in for a surprise. With this scheme you are trying to eliminate non-residents from the equation, the next step would than be to limit the number of cars per household for Sliema residents themselves!! Or maybe set a roster whereby number plates A to K can park in the streets from Monday to Thursday and the rest on a weekend.
Car parks are the only solution but you can’t expect me to park in the car park near Ghar id-Dud to go to Balluta…. That’s crazy… car parks should be implemented at different locations at reasonable prices.
Galea. L
Aug 20th 2009, 17:35
Joseph M Muscat
If it is introduced anywhere it must be introduced in all towns and villages because what right have you got not to allow me to park in your own and you come to my town and park freely?
No Muscat, all such systems must be abolished because they are DISCRIMINATORY. If you need parking take a room from your house and turn it into a garage or buy or rent a garage or parking space in a garage. If you read the judgment in the Borg case you will see that the judge indirectly said that such schemes are stupid as it would turn Malta into so many different republics.
Page 9
"Izda dak li ghamel il-Kunsill kien li javvantagga lir-residenti ta’ lokalita’ fuq dawk ta’ lokalita’ ohra u ma hemm ebda interess pubbliku"
Page 10
"Minn imkien ma jirrizulta li dan l-artikolu jaghti s-setgha lil Kunsill Lokali li jiddiskrimina favur ir-residenti ta’ lokalita’. """"Kull min ihallas l-istess ammont ghall-licenzja huwa intitolat ghall-istess drittijiet. Wiehed irid jiftakar li l-Isptar San Luqa jilqa’ cittadini ta’ Malta minn kull lokalita’ ta’ Malta u Ghawdex. Il-kaz setgha jkun differenti kieku f’Malta kollha l-Kunsilli jaghtu trattament preferenzjali lir-residenti taghha.""""
Joseph M Muscat
Aug 20th 2009, 17:01
@ P. Zammit. Sliema is not the only place to have this problem, but it is one of them and probably one of the most. The fact is that Sliema attracts many people, Tourists and non-residents. This creates a problem for us residents to find parking spaces. Sliema is surrounded by the sea, which attract people to our beaches, it is also where the Comino ferries dock which bring to Sliema many people to board these ships. Then of course there are the endless number of cafes, restaurants, bars, hotels and shops in a relatively small area.
@ Galea.L. While it may sound Discriminatory, non-residents will still benefit. As non-residents will be able to park in a car park and will not have waste half their time looking for parking. Also why would this scheme be introduced in all of Malta? It should only be introduced in places which are really in need of such a scheme.
There is a difference between wanting something and needing something. There can be no generalization. Each city/town/village has its own needs and that is after all what the council is there for to observe its localities' needs.
Jean-Pierre Aquilina
Aug 20th 2009, 15:29
@Claire Bonello
The difference is that Valletta has several car parks and the Government introduced the park and ride together with the residents parking scheme, whereas in most other towns, Sliema included, car parks are almost non-existent and there are no plans to construct alternative parking for non-residents.
Mark Galea
Aug 20th 2009, 15:06
I fully agree with Joseph Matthew Muscat' s letter. As for M.Borg and others, who couldn't be bothered about the hardship this parking scheme would have on workers, I say what makes you think you have some divine right to park in front of my home, and I don't have the same right to park in front of yours?
This is totally unfair, and I believe, illegal. I can't believe Nikki Dimech is really going on with this idea. It is so obvious to all that all he wants is to secure the votes of the Sliema residents. One thing for sure, Mr Dimech. Restaurants, offices, and shops in Sliema will not be thanking you for your arrogant attitude!
Galea. L
Aug 20th 2009, 14:17
Al those in favour of the Resident Parkign Scheme, this is DISCRIMINATORY AND THEREFORE ILLEGAL. The streets are NOT your private property and parking must remain on a first come first served basis. Can you be so short sighted that you do not realize that if the scheme is introduced all over Malta NO ONE including YOU will not be able to go outside your town? You have absolutely NO more right than non-residents to have reserved parking.
L Attard If you think you can enforce that let's see you try Attard.
A. Farrugia NO PAYMENT if the residents do not pay farrugia. They have nothing more than us.
Mark this straight. THERE SHALL BE NO COMPROMISE WITH OUR RIGHTS AND WE SHALL NOT ACCEPT ANY FORM OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST US NON-RESIDENTS.
The Valletta parking is discriminatory on three counts.
1. Valletta residents have their own reserved boxes.
2. Non-residents cannot park in Valletta residents boxes.
3. Non-residents have to pay while Valletta residents do not.
Mr Borg, you can include the Valletta scheme in your case before the Courts.
P.Zammit
Aug 20th 2009, 13:17
M.Borg
The minute you start paying double the taxes the rest of us pay, then I will accept that you should get reserved parking. Otherwise, I cannot see any fairness in this. Does Sliema only have this problem. boo hoo, no.
Are you one of those people who is requesting special parking permits for relatives to visit you ?
Are you one of those people claiming that tourists should get special parking permits over Maltese living in other towns ?
Are you one of theose people when going to other localities complain because of parking schemes there ?
Are you one of those that want to park right outside your front door and not ready to walk?
Are you one of those that does not want to pay an additional premium on your road tax (say 100% more) to get free reserved parking?
Are you one of those people calling others to use the bus, but then you want to use the car? (Use the bus matey!)
Are you one of those people in a family of 4 all having a car and claiming 4 reserved parking spaces right behind your door step ?
Are you serious ?!
M.Borg
Aug 20th 2009, 11:05
Reading all these blogs against the proposed Sliema resident parking scheme one would think that life in Malta is cominig to an end . Do all the residents of Malta really want to come and find a parking place in Sliema ? No wonder we residents feel invaded .
As for car parks. yes build new car parks by all means , but do you want these car parks to be free.? Sliema already has a large car park which is never full. Two Sliema hotels also offer parking to non residents. As for public transport the Sliema bus service is not bad. Use the buses. The few parking spaces that we have are need by us residents . They cant be taken up for 12 or more hours by workers summer and winter.. If these people feel that they have a right for a parking place just because they work here , should not our right , the residents , come before theirs ?
Claire Bonello
Aug 20th 2009, 10:58
@Joseph Sciberras - You are wrong. Sliema (and the other localities where the scheme is being implemented) do not want to exclude people from visiting their towns, however they would not like to be excluded from their homes either. As a Sliema resident who works in Valletta, I did not feel that the Valletta residents parking scheme was discriminatory. I realised that their parking problem should be allievated too.
Joseph M Muscat
Aug 20th 2009, 10:46
Parking in Sliema is a problem for both residents and non-residents. This Scheme will hopefully benefit both sides. At the current moment non-residents visiting Sliema will most probably park in a private car park or spend quite a substantial amount of time looking for a decent parking space which isn't a thirty-minute-walk away from their destination.
With this scheme non-resident visiting Sliema will park comfortably and arrive at their desired destination within a few minutes by walk or transport.
A. Farrugia
Aug 20th 2009, 10:18
I believe the real issue is to improve public transport and introduce a park-and-ride system, ideally working on the same principles adopted for the Valletta Park&Ride scheme.
That said, I would understand if service fees are implemented. There could be a range of tickets available to use the service, from tickets valid for one day, tickets for a number of rides or year-round tickets for instance. Depending on the client's motivation to travel to Sliema, the customer would logically buy the most appropriate ticket.
With respect to the locality where the relevant car-park would be located, I think the best approach is to invest in underground facilities, terrain permitting. A large car-park similar to the MCP car-park would suffice - ideally roofed over with a public garden, some kiosks and public restrooms. Mini-vans, or possibly even boats, would then ferry people to Sliema accordingly.
I do understand that this might require a couple of years to be implemented; however I'm also confident that such an investment would bring a long-term drastic reduction in the burden that Sliema residents have to contend with without negative repurcussions. That said, I don't think their present burden can ever justify discrimination against non-residents.
Joseph Sciberras
Aug 20th 2009, 10:04
I think we should vote with our feet. The message that the towns intrudicing resident parking schemes are sending to non-residents is clear, "we do not want you here". So from now on I will do my shopping elsewhere, where I am welcome.