Valletta mayor Alexei Dingli has denied claims by the council's minority leader that councillors were not consulted about the plan to turn part of Merchant's Street, which was designated to be a pedestiran zone, into a parking area for members of Parliament.

Earlier today, minority leader Ray Azzopardi told timesomalta.com that he yesterday moved a motion before the council calling on the authorities to make alternative arrangements for the parking of MPs' cars, rather than use the pedestrian zone at Merchants' Street.

He said that after so much investment had been made in the area, MPs should set the example and not park there. Mr Azzopardi pointed out that residents had lost valuable parking space when this area was designated for pedestrians.

Last week, stainless steel plates were fitted into the lava paving to mark 70 parking bays in Merchants Street and Market Square.

They were used by MPs for the first time yesterday evening.

This arrangement is meant to be temporary until the new Parliament building is completed in Freedom Square as part of the Renzo Piano project.

However, Dr Dingli said that it was not true that residents were losing parking space. They had just been given the MPs' reserved parking spots in Republic Street, part of Archbishop Street and the lower part of Merchants Street, which they could not previously use.

MPs will only use these spaces during morning sittings when Merchants' Street is taken up by the market stalls.

Mr Azzopardi told timesofmalta.com that he and the other Labour councillors only learnt of the new parking arrangements when the mayor informed the council last Wednesday.

In his motion, expected to be debated during the next council meeting, he is calling on the Mayor not to take such decisions without informing the council beforehand. The motion also calls on the authorities to seek an alternative solution.

Mr Azzopardi said that he was confident of the support of the other Labour councillors.

But Dr Dingli said that when he presented the council with the MPs parking plan last Wednesday, he had presented the plan for the council's approval. As no one said anything against it, there was no need for a vote and the plan, which was agreed upon by both sides of the House, was taken as approved.

Mr Calleja said that most ministries were in Valletta so ministers could easily walk to Parliament. Furthermore, there were alternatives for the other MPs, who, he pointe dout, were exempt from paying the CVA fee to park in Valletta.

Moreover, there were also the Floriana car park and the Park and Ride.

MPs, Mr Azzopardi said, should lead by example.

The minutes of last Wednesday's council meeting have not yet been compiled.