The proposed scheme imposing restricted hours on half the parking spaces in Sliema has prompted a torrent of different reactions from residents, shoppers, business owners and their employees.

Mayor Anthony Chircop explained that each road would be equally split, with notices put up to mark the beginning and end of the timed zones.

Half of the parking bays in Sliema will be reserved for residents, who will be given a local council permit to display in their cars.

Non-residents may only park in these spots for a maximum period of two hours, between 8am and 9pm, Saturdays and Sundays included.

If this two-hour limit is exceeded, non-residents will be fined €23.29.

According to resident Christianne Wirth, the scheme is a fair one.

“Personally, I have a driveway, so I don’t struggle with parking. However, I know Sliema residents who spend up to 45 minutes waiting in their car for an available parking space.

“This scheme should be especially enforced near the shopping centres,” she added.

When most of the apartments at the front were built, they were not allowed a garage because it was considered dangerous to reverse on to a main road.

“From Tex Mex restaurant all the way to Surfside, there is only one block of apartments with a garage. People who can afford an apartment at the front would probably own up to three cars per flat.”

She pointed out that Sliema was mostly made up of an ageing population, making a car more of a necessity.

“The current car parks can be quite expensive. Sometimes, to visit Capua you end up paying up to €7. The Tower Supermarket car park is more expensive on Saturdays.

“I suggest that some two-way roads be made one way to accommodate parking on both sides.”

Elderly residents Margaret Camilleri and Maria Anastasi felt they would be adversely affected by the scheme.

“I live alone and I need my daughter when I fall ill. Two hours are not enough for her to visit me. I’m going to be abandoned,” a concerned Ms Camilleri complained.

Ms Anastasi concurred: “On numerous occasions, our children had to drive back home without visiting us because they wouldn’t manage to find parking. This will doubly discourage them.”

Leslie Agius and Vanessa Attard, both from Birkirkara but who work in an English language school in Sliema, also anticipate parking problems.

“I normally arrive in Sliema before 7am to find parking. Now it’s going to be worse. We spend more than half our day in Sliema, five days a week,” Ms Attard pointed out.

Mr Agius suggested that those who worked in Sliema should be provided with a pass and treated like residents till 6pm.

Michelle Grech, who lives in Fgura and works in a Sliema toyshop, echoed Mr Agius’ proposition.

“People who work in Sliema should also benefit from some sort of scheme. It’s also worrying from a business perspective. Will people come over for a mere two hours?”

According to Alfred Fenech, owner of four Sterling jewellery shops in Sliema, no parking meant “no business”.

“This scheme is very worrying. When a similar one was introduced in Valletta, business suffered greatly.

“The thing is many residents will still park in the non-resident parking bays to reserve the spaces for their relatives. This means our clients and our employees will find it even harder to park,” he said.

Retail areas such as the Strand, he added, should not have restricted parking spaces. The scheme should be reserved for roads such as Dingli or Tonna streets.

“Arriva has already taken up a number of parking spaces. The catering industry and coffee shops will also suffer due to this scheme. Two hours won’t be enough. The scheme is in favour of residents but against business.”

In response to these concerns, the mayor said: “There is absolutely no parking whatsoever at the moment. This way, there will be more movement throughout the day.”

He admitted that employees would be at a disadvantage but Sliema was well connected through public transport.

“This scheme is not a solution but it’s a step to provide more leeway.”

The Sliema residents’ parking scheme will start being introduced towards the end of this month and will be implemented across the whole locality within six months.