Rabat residents welcome facelift of old, dusty car park

Raymond Sammut

Sep 11th 2009, 04:36

@ claire farrugia & Galea. L

I didn't suggest "paying" for parking. That's up to the Rabat council to determine in consultation with the Rabtin residents.

My suggestion was that parking signage -- showing parking duration time limits allowed by council at designated spaces -- is essential in order to ensure that the parking of a vehicle at peak times of the week is legal and not excessive. This would allow everyone equitable usage of parking spaces available to (1) nearby residents, (2) visitors from another part of the island, and (3) tourists. The idea is to segment time usage in accordance with different categories of users having different needs at different times of the week.

For example, what does the Rabat council do if some people started parking vehicles and left them there for hours (even days) on end, and not give a chance to others to park there. Surely the Council parking officials would have to find out what's going on.

claire farrugia

Sep 10th 2009, 09:19

LGalea
well said if we have to pay to park there too, that would be really too much, we pay enough taxes already. as lgalea said, the salaries in malta are not like abroad and the taxes quite high for what we are getting, bad roads, bad infrastructure, consumer prices which have sored to the ceiling without any control, I think many Maltese people have had enough of paying and not getting anything in return

Galea. L

Sep 9th 2009, 13:26

Raymond Sammut
Can you please stop making suggestions for parking time, tickets, etc.?
YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF MALTESE PERSONS ARE NOT MAKING ENDS MEET RAYMOND AND ARE PAYING MORE THAN ENOUGH TAXES TO HAVE OUR CAR ON THE ROAD. WE ALSO DO NOT ENJOY THE WAGES THAT YOU HAVE RAYMOND. MAKE YOUR SUGGESTIONS TO YOUR LOCAL COUNCIL AND NOT TO THOSE IN MALTA.

G. Cachia

Sep 9th 2009, 13:24

Nice photo. As this morning they are surrounding with Tarmac the roads outside this car park I believe that it is everyone's wish that they will keep on going up to Mdina Gate because the road needs a new surface again.

Mdina is getting busier all year round with hundreds of cars parking everywhere especially in the evenings and in the weekends.

If I'm not mistaken the land of this car park was a private land and the Government had to pay money for it.

Raymond Sammut

Sep 9th 2009, 13:04

The so-called "small room" should have been demolished since the day they stopped using the area as a fruit and vegie market. It should be get rid off immediately without any further qualms and delay.

The car-park will need several suitable trees planted, else the car-park itself will be an eyesore once it starts to fill up with all sorts of vehicles.

The Rabat council will also need to erect signs, advising motorists about the legality of their parked vehicle, say, 2-hr, 4-hr, 8-hr, parking 9am-5pm weekdays, week-ends exempted, etc. That way, no-one should be able to pose as a parking attendant, and only council officers will have the authority to issue parking tickets if these parking signs are not adhered to.

Next time I am in Malta, I should not have to twist my ankle again each time I walk from Mdina (mina t'isfel) and try to cut across to s-Sorijiet to reach iz-zuntier ta' San Pawl, hopefully, in one piece.

Pierre Agius

Sep 9th 2009, 12:42

Truly a good and remarkable job. Two things. First MAINTENANCE – the park looks nice now but in a year’s time? Secondly, a heartfelt observation - trees, trees, trees, trees. I would have planted trees around the park. Greenery is so soothing for the eye. Let us start putting trees even in residential roads, typical Mediterranean trees like wild olive trees, Bakkaljaw etc. This is the best way how to upgrade the island. Tourists coming from the continent notice our lack of greenery.

Galea. L

Sep 9th 2009, 12:21

Tell the parker that it is PUBLIC property and no one pays to park on PUBLIC property and to go get a proper job.

anthea doughty

Sep 9th 2009, 11:53

@ Mr Aquilina
What free of charge car park in Rabat? This car park along with many others I have parked in on Malta has an old boy appear from nowhere with some sort of ID badge round his neck (presumably found in rubbish somewhere) posing as an attendant and asking for money! It has always been one of the great mysteries to me of my visits to Malta who and what these people are, if they are legal and officiial or self-appointed con artists practicing a form of fraudulent begging posing as officials?

william ebejer

Sep 9th 2009, 11:19

not a single doubt..... we're gonna see a cowboy soon with a tag on his chest, asking you for money. as if you're parking on his land! same like anywhere else. and afterall, what is their job? are they suppose to look after your car? not that i'm aware of! & do they get paid by the govt. / local council?
we shouldn'y be paying for parking our cars in public spaces, thats's why we pay license every year & taxes. and oh.....btw do they pay tax on what they're making?
let's stick together guys, start from this parking spot and stop throwing away your money from car windows!!

Peter Aquilina

Sep 9th 2009, 10:28

One wonders........Is it going to remain as a free of charge public car park ? Or shall motorists be encountering "parking attendants" ( "appointed" by the 'Job for The Boys Institute' ) on entering or leaving the site ?

n. grima

Sep 9th 2009, 10:09

I quote ''by tomorrow or Friday the lines for the parking bays should be painted''.

This means that we can park without any 'assistance'. Let us hope that no self-appointed parker hijacks the place as from tomorrow! We do not need any parker at this new parking place.