The Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises – GRTU is suggesting the creation of parking complexes close to town and city centres through commuted parking payment scheme funding.
It is also recommending reduced withholding tax rates on property developed by private investors for parking complexes that service the community.
The CPPS is funded directly through fees that developers and businesses pay for not providing parking facilities when new building projects are undertaken.
In a position paper on the controversy surrounding the residential parking schemes and the Government’s intention to abolish them, the GRTU said that having parking facilities close to town and village cores would facilitate more business support to shopping centres.
CVA did not fail because it was technically wrong, but because of the rushed implementation
“Few towns and villages can support the wide range of retail and other services provided in city cores if traffic and parking management does not facilitate the use of such services by other customers who do not reach the centre on foot or by bus,” the GRTU said.
It proposed additional capital grants to local councils to encourage the promotion of private parking facilities to service clients utilising the new or extended enterprises in the city core.
On Valletta’s controlled vehicular access system, which the Government is reviewing, the GRTU reiterated that it was in favour of a time-controlled parking scheme in the capital, especially during peak hours, due to the limited number of parking spaces available.
However, it also made a case for a capital project for underground parking, adding that “Valletta will not be able to get back on its feet unless there is a turnaround on the parking issue”.
“CVA did not fail because it was technically wrong or because of a lack of parking meters but because of the rushed implementation of the system by the government and the Valletta local council. It is not acceptable that MPs and ministers take up a substantial number of parking spaces without paying.”