Self-declared reserved parking

I refer to the letter by Stephanie Sciberras (September 4). I have a similar complaint as regards the Mellieħa local council.

It appears that in Mellieħa there is an unwritten rule that one cannot park one's car in front of another person's house (yes, house, not garage or ramp). To this end, a certain gentleman in our road makes sure we do park our vehicles by dumping a dilapidated Mini that is leaking oil all over the place and parking another car in such a way that the two vehicles are taking up the space of at least four cars. When I tried to reason it out with him, he told us we did not have any right to park there.

Our cars, when parked in another street, again never in front of a garage, have been scratched and otherwise vandalised to such an extent that a wheel on my car was loosened deliberately and could have proven to lead to a fatal accident. We were also threatened physically by another gentleman and warned that there would be consequences should we park in "his" road.

So I contacted a certain member of the local council via e-mail requesting parking bays and his answer was that there already are parking bays. I answered by saying that, had this been the case, I would not have asked for them. I never received an answer.

Some months down the line I called again and asked for the same person who obviously took offence at my request. He promised to come to the street in question and check out the parking problem and that he would get back to me. Unsurprisingly enough, he was able to give me all my neighbours' names one by one and it was obvious he knew who the offenders are with regard to parking problems in my street. It must have taken him a long time to return home as three days later I had to call myself and, upon giving my name, I was told that he was in a meeting and would return my call. Twenty four hours later he was still in a meeting and I called again. I was then informed that he had discussed my request with the council and that it was deemed too costly to paint (a maximum of six) bays in our street. Perhaps the money would be better spent in such things rather than magazines praising the council's achievements. How about starting with using the money where needed, such as parking bays and, even better, the removal of empty plastic bottles and other rubbish left on the beach at Għadira at the end of the day? Or will this not impede the awarding of a Blue Flag so coveted by the local council?

A lot of work has been done in Mellieħa, however this is done only where it can be seen by people passing through on their way to the most northern part of the island.

Obviously, the busy councillor knew that, as yet, I do not have the right to vote in the local council elections.