The General Workers’ Union has called on the Prime Minister to intervene in the contentious issue of residents’ parking in Sliema.

It would create problems for business owners and those who work in Sliema

The union sent a letter to Lawrence Gonzi yesterday complaining the new parking scheme would create problems for business owners and those who work in the town.

It was also an extra financial burden, the union said in its letter also sent to Tourism Minister Mario de Marco, the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association and the Sliema council, which is implementing the scheme.

The GWU’s complaint follows one by the teachers’ union last week, which declared an industrial dispute over the scheme and called on authorities to suspend it until a solution is found.

Under the scheme, which is being rolled out over six months, half the parking bays will be reserved for residents, who will be given a permit to display on their cars.

Between 8am and 9pm, non-residents may only park in these spots for up to two hours or be fined €23.29.

The secretary of the GWU’s Food and Hospitality section, Kevin Camilleri, said Sliema was the centre of substantial activity linked to the tourism industry and was considered to be a tourism zone.

There were many hotels and restaurants in Sliema and their employees would have to move their cars at regular intervals before the time window elapsed or be fined.

This decision could possibly also affect businesses in the area, the union said.

Signs have so far been put up in Dingli Street but fines are not yet being handed out in order to give people time to get used to the system.

Shoppers, business owners, their employees and even a few residents have reacted negatively to the scheme.