Sliema car park shelved as ministry considers feasibility

The government is re-examining the feasibility of building an underground car park at Sliema Ferries, Roads Minister Joe Mizzi said this evening. Replying to a question in Parliament by George Pullicino (PN), the minister said since the lastest cost estimate exceeded 60 per cent of the original projection, and since the work would mean uprooting all the works recently completed by Transport Malta in this area, the ministry was evaluating the project. "The ministry has decided that the car park does not fall within its immediate priorities," the minister said. Last December Mepa had given the go-ahead for the building of the  car park for 200 vehicles. The cost was said to be €7 million. According to the plans, the car park was to be roofed by a public garden on the site of the current car park. The garden was to have featured fountains, the current war memorial, a monument dedicated to Sliema Wanderers football player Tony Nicholl and another to sculptor Censu Apap. The project was meant to start in the first half of this year following the tendering process.  €3.5 million of the €7 million needed for the project was to have come from Mepa’s commuted parking payment scheme.