Sliema Business Community proposes division of parking zones, bus lane removal

On the eve of the government's first public consultation meeting on the proposed reform of the local warden system, Parliamentary Secretary for Local Governance Jose Herrera this afternoon met with Sliema business owners and stakeholders, pledging to make the local warden system "fairer and more efficient". 

Considered as a haven for wardens to issue citations, Sliema has seen the most citations issued across the country. Amounting to approximately €8 million, these citations are however, seen as a deterrent to business.

"While it is important for wardens to operate across Sliema, the amount of citations issued and the government's implemented measures, among which include the bus lane and the parking concessions, are discouraging shoppers from coming to Sliema," Mark Lauri from the Sliema Business Community said.

Launched earlier this month by Jose Herrera, the white paper on local enforcement seeks to make the system "fairer and more transparent." One of the paper's key proposals seeks to empower local enforcement system management committee (LEN) to create a centralised unit which would enforce laws delegated to the five regional committees. This would effectively transfer the administration of local wardens from the private company currently running the system to an "independent" unit.

The reform aims at making wardens "friendlier" and better received by the public, by removing the need to finance the private companies that are providing them with a steady stream of fines. Pledging a 30% reduction in costs, Herrera's solution will be to turn the LES into a national unit of wardens serving councils, rather than the private operators taking over 70% of the total fines issued over the years.

Speaking to MaltaToday, Lauri called on the government to implement reforms to facilitate business and shop owners.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Lauri highlighted the lack of parking as the main issue that has plagued Sliema and consequently, called on the government to implement reforms to alleviate the parking congestion in Sliema.

 "The Sliema Business Community is proposing the division of Sliema parking into timed commercial and residential zones. Residents would be issued with parking permits while the commercial zones would be available to commuters and shoppers," Lauri argued.

The Sliema council had previously proposed the introduction of timed parking zones, but after an industrial action by the Malta Union of Teachers and a barrage of criticism from commuters; the government suspended the residential parking system.

In addition Lauri proposed the removal of bus lanes, albeit temporarily and during peak times, and called on the government to reinstate a shuttle service in Sliema.

"Prior to the introduction of Arriva, a bus service used to operate around the Sliema streets, but this was suspended due to the competitiveness issues. Its introduction would surely facilitate the flow of traffic and alleviate parking problems," Lauri argued.

"Notwithstanding the government's concession of parking spaces, we are also proposing that part of the parking spaces be under the responsibility of the government. These would operate on a three-hour basis that would see clients continuously coming in," the Sliema Business Community representative explained.

Meanwhile, parliamentary secretary Jose Herrera hinted at the introduction of a shuttle bus service, and pledges to take into consideration the issues of all stakeholders.

"The government is committed to address the issues voiced by the commercial community and will seek to alleviate traffic and problems in and around Sliema."