Parking will be restricted at the Floriana multi-storey car park and part of the park-and-ride facility during this month’s summit meetings, spelling misery for thousands of motorists.
The decision, which only came to light following enquiries by the Times of Malta has left the Valletta business community and employers fuming.
A Transport Malta spokesman confirmed yesterday that, on November 11 and 12, when Malta will be hosting the Valletta summit on migration and an informal EU Council meeting, part of the park-and-ride complex in Floriana will not be accessible to vehicles. The same would happen on November 27, on the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting.
Although it is still unclear how many parking spaces will be ‘lost’ at the Floriana park-and-ride, the spokesman noted that the remaining part of the complex would remain open and the shuttle service would run normally.
He noted that even the Marsa park-and-ride facility would be affected as this would be out of bounds for the public for a period of time on November 27 and 28. Further details would be given in the coming days.
It was also confirmed that the MCP car park in Floriana, which can hold about 1,000 vehicles, will , “in all probability”, remain closed on November 27. While pointing out that no announcement had been made yet because talks on the matter are still under way, the car park operator said the only possible exception could be pre-paid members because there could be a limited number of spaces available to them.
Asked about the reasons behind this closure, the operator said that part of the complex would be made available to the foreign delegations attending the CHOGM opening.
The move decision is likely to hit Valletta retail outlets and the thousands of workers based there.
“I am totally against such arrangements, about which we knew nothing, as these will hinder the daily operations of businesses on a day when it should be business as usual,” Malta Employers Association director general Joe Farrugia said.
Valletta shop owners agreed, admitting they were taken completely by surprise when this newspaper sought their reaction.
“As representatives of the retail sector, the least we expected was to be consulted over such measure because it will have a direct bearing on business patterns,” the president of the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises – GRTU, Paul Abela, said.