Updated - Adds council reaction - The Malta Union of Teachers has directed teachers who work in schools in Sliema to report for work an hour late next Tuesday in protest over the Sliema Residents' Parking Scheme.

The affected schools are those within St Claire College in Sliema, St. Francis School Sliema, St. Joseph School Sliema (Primary and Secondary) and St. Dorothy’s School Sliema.

The union noted that the local council had ignored its concerns about how the scheme would affect teachers who, it said, would have to leave their classrooms every two hours to move their cars.

It also noted that the council had carried on even though Parliamentary Secretary Jose' Herrera had said in reply to a parliamentary question on Monday that the council could not impose fines.

SLIEMA COUNCIL REACTION

In a reaction, Sliema Council said the Timed Parking Scheme was being implemented according to legal notice 200 of 2009, as directed by Transport Malta permits issued in 2006 and 2008.

"These permits allow the Tas-Sliema Local Council to implement the Timed Parking Scheme in half of the parking bays in the roads listed in the said Legal Notice. The other half shall remain unrestricted as they have always been.

 "Understanding that the traffic scenario in Sliema from 2008 to date may have changed, the council, whilst carrying on with the implementation of the current scheme as prescribed in the Legal Notice, has set up a board to deliberate on the design of the scheme so that it reflects any new situations which may have arisen since then and which may arise in the future, so that the scheme is continuously updated to satisfy the Sliema community at large," the council said.