A Fiat Punto with a police notice affixed to it.

Cars parked on a public road awaiting the attention of a spray painter are regularly ordered to be removed by the police only for a new batch of vehicles to take their place, much to the annoyance of residents.

At any one time, between five and 12 parking bays in a small square in Triq l-Irmiġġ, Msida, are taken up by vehicles belonging to the sprayer’s clients and many of them do not carry a number plate or valid licence.

Whenever the situation is reported to the police, the vehicles are slapped with notices for the cars to be removed within eight days.

But once they are done, a new batch of cars ready to be sprayed replaces them, resident Lucien Stafrace told this newspaper.

He said the spray painter could only fit one car in his garage.

“He’s supposed to garage them, not keep them parked outside for weeks on end. When my mechanic isn’t working on the cars, he drives them into his garage,” Mr Stafrace said.

“There are currently five cars – last week I counted 10. It’s very inconvenient, especially when you have visitors over because there’s no space to park.

“Most of them do not have a number plate or have expired licences.”

In the meantime, he said, there were plans to create a green area on the spot but the local council had decided to reduce the greenery to make way for about seven parking bays.

Mr Stafrace had been in contact with the council, who passed on his complaint to the police.

It’s inconvenient, especially when you have visitors over because there’s no space to park

“Isn’t it about time that the police take real action to get this problem sorted once and for all,” he asked.

Asked to comment, Msida mayor Margaret Baldacchino Cefai said that the legal procedures needed to be followed.

“One cannot simply tow the cars away. However, the local council and the police have initiated procedures for them to be removed.

“With regard to cars that have a valid licence and number plate, I’m afraid there is nothing much one can do. I understand they may cause inconvenience but legal cars may be parked wherever their owners wish.”

She also said that the site, which is schemed as a Public Open Space, will be used for this purpose and will still include greenery, even though some more parking spaces had been added to the original design.