On the day the country will be asked to vote on the introduction of divorce, Sliema residents will likely also have to decide on a residential parking scheme.

The scheme is the same one proposed when Nikki Dimech was still mayor: to reserve half the parking spaces in Sliema for residents and allow outsiders to use them for a few hours while leaving the other 50 per cent available to non-residents.

Although the council seems to be in agreement about the scheme, when it was first announced a number of people had objected to the idea. Therefore, on Thursday the council unanimously approved a motion moved by deputy mayor Cyrus Engerer to support the introduction of the residential parking scheme only once it is approved by Sliema residents.

Mr Engerer suggested the referendum be held on May 28, the day which has so far been earmarked for the divorce referendum.

The referendum question, Mr Engerer said, will “explain exactly what the scheme entails”.