Rabat council protests over privatisation of car parks

The Rabat council this afternoon protested over the privatisation of its two public car parks, one just outside Mdina, the other at the former Ghalqa ta’ Kola near the Roman Villa.

Addressing a news conference, mayor Sandro Craus said the car parks were mainly used by residents and people who worked in the area.

Their privatisation would create a financial strain and the fact that they would be free of charge at night did not make sense because residents also used the car parks during the day.

Transport Malta has published calls for tender for the operation of 34 public car park sites currently administered by licensed car park attendants.

But the Transport Ministry said in a statement following the press conference that residents who lived close to the car parks would continue to enjoy free parking at all times.

This also applied for the residents who lived close to parking areas in Mosta and Floriana, it said.

PL candidate Marlene Mizzi, who was present for the press conference together with other Labour MPs and candidates, has a shop near one of the sites.

She said:

“It is going to cost more for anybody who comes to visit or shop as people will have to pay for the only convenient parking spaces there is…

“I think this is crazy. In principle, I don’t agree that land which belongs to the people will be given to one entrepreneur to be utilised commercially. I think we’re really going overboard now.”

Transport Malta said in a statement that the Ghalqa ta’ Kola parking had been administered by the private sector through a parker for a long time. The only change there was going to be was that, rather than the parker being automatically given the site year after year, a tendering process would be introduced.