Illegal parking of government cars in the pedestrian part of Merchants Street, Valletta, would be stopped immediately, a spokesman for the Office of the Prime Minister said.

Condemning the practice, he said: “Cars parked on Merchants Street are not acceptable and the government will issue a notice for it to stop right away.” He did not indicate when the notice will be issued.

Over the past months, vans and cars, including those used by ministers and government officials, could be seen illegally parked in the upper part of Merchants Street, which is a pedestrianised zone.

Sometimes for hours on end, the vehicles are left in the upper part of the road on both sides in the morning and early afternoon, including in front of the government offices.

Both the Valletta local council and Transport Malta confirmed the parking was unauthorised.

“The council is aware and we are objecting. If we want Valletta to flourish again, we can’t allow cars to park in a pedestrian area,” mayor Alexiei Dingli said.

It was not safe for pedestrians, especially those with children, and, furthermore, it “is damaging the pavement,” he added.

The transport watchdog also said it had not authorised any parking in the road in question.

Prof. Dingli said the council had informed the police, who are jointly responsible with the council for enforcement, on several occasions about the illegal parking in the city centre.

Fines issued by the police for illegal parking in Merchants Street increased in number this year when compared to 2013.

Between January and July, 287 parking fines were handed out, well above the 196 that had been issued in the same period last year.

A total of 382 fines were issued in 2013, the highest number in December, amounting to 118. Only three parking tickets issued had been issued in August. One of the capital city’s most popular streets, Merchants Street was pedestrianised in 2008 by a Nationalist government, with traffic allowed only in given time periods through Melita Street.

A Transport Malta spokesman said it had not issued any permits for on-street parking in Merchants Street.

It added that “law enforcement with regard to illegal parking does not fall within Transport Malta’s remit”.