Infrastructure Minister Joe Mizzi is looking for “all sorts of excuses” not to build the underground car park at The Ferries in Sliema, according to his predecessor George Pullicino.
I find it hard to believe that the cost is 60 per cent more than originally estimated
Mr Mizzi told Parliament on Monday that the new Government was re-examining the feasibility of the project which, he claimed, would cost 60 per cent more than the original estimate.
When the Malta Environment and Planning Authority approved the plans last December the cost was estimated at €7 million, of which around half would come from the authority’s Commuted Parking Payment Scheme fund.
This fund is made of money from developers and businesses in Sliema that did not provide adequate car spaces for their buildings.
“I find it hard to believe that the cost is 60 per cent more than originally estimated. I have no idea how they reached that conclusion,” the former minister said yesterday, adding he would be asking for an explanation in Parliament.
Mr Pullicino also denied his successor’s claim that the car park would require digging up works recently completed by Transport Malta. He said those works to upgrade the road and promenade at Sliema were planned in consultation with his ministry, so the new road surfaces and promenade would not have to be dug up again.
The 200-space underground car park was planned for where the current surface car park and war memorial stand. Its roof was intended to be a landscaped garden incorporating the war memorial, new fountains and monuments.
Pressed on this coordination between his ministry and Transport Malta, Mr Pullicino said Transport Malta had even shifted a pedestrian crossing so it would be in sync with the car park project.
He insisted the proposed car park was not just for the benefit of Sliema businesses or residents.
“Sliema is the second most visited place by tourists in Malta. I hope this government understands there must be an aesthetic improvement to The Ferries,” he said, pointing out how this would complement improvements made by the previous government in Bisazza Street and St Anne’s Square.
“When Labour was in government Sliema hardly ever got any infrastructure works. People probably fear this will happen again,” he said, when told that some Sliema residents had expressed concern about future investment in the town by the new administration.
Robert Pace, who owns several retail outlets in Sliema, said the business community was disappointed by the minister’s remarks.
“Parking is definitely a priority, we’ve already been hit by the council’s residents’ parking scheme.”
Transport Malta did not respond to questions yesterday. In an e-mail last December it told The Times: “Works currently being carried out by TM are complementary to the planned Resources Ministry works for embellishment of the area and provision of underground parking... the construction of the car park foundations and necessary realignment of certain service culverts will require a short section of carriageway to be reconstructed.”