When the multi-million liri Bay Street complex opened in November, the traffic problems caused by visitors trying to park there were immediately apparent. There was widespread concern among residents, who feared that the area, which was already notorious for parking problems, was going to be hit even harder, especially with the IMAX cinema set to open one week later.

Nationalist MP Dolores Cristina, who contests and lives in Swieqi, told MaltaToday that she had encouraged Swieqi local council to seek some form of compensation for the parking problems that the opening of the Bay Street complex had caused.

"I do not want to appear prejudiced against the project itself, but my conviction is that before such a complex was opened, more detailed studies should have been undertaken regarding the traffic arrangements," she said.

Ms Cristina pointed out that not even the 90 car spaces allocated for staff at the complex were sufficient, since the number of people employed there was already higher than this, before the problem of parking for visitors was scrutinised.

"The park and ride scheme at the Luxol grounds is not a satisfactory solution for residents since we know that people prefer to look for parking nearer and avoid paying to park and then get a bus," she said.

Ms Cristina added that she was in favour of residents' parking slots and also voiced her opinion that businessmen who open up establishments for profit should expect to bear some of the responsibility that goes hand in hand with their trade.

Labour spokesman Evarist Bartolo, who also lives in Swieqi, said that although the Bay Street complex had provided a new venue for family outings, the parking and traffic flow problems could not be ignored.

"This has certainly created new problems for people that live in Swieqi," he admitted.

Mr Bartolo said he accepted that it was impossible to provide underground parking since the construction was at sea level, but said one possible solution might have been to provide more incentive for the public to use the Luxol park and ride scheme.

"I have heard that some people found the scheme rather expensive," he said. "If the service is not being utilised that well and since the problems do not appear to be going away, perhaps the management needs to rethink whether the facility is attractive enough."

The Bay Street complex, which has 65 commercial outlets spread over 48,000 metres, was permitted to open without providing parking at the centre itself, but set up a park and ride scheme and also made a contribution to the Commuted Parking Payment Scheme. The funds are kept in trust by the Planning Authority, to be used for projects to tackle traffic and parking problems on a regional basis, but only once enough money has been accrued.