MP denies MPs enjoy free Valletta parking - GRTU warns against scrapping CVA system

Updated 7.20 p.m. Labour MP Carmelo Abela this evening denied a claim by the GRTU that MPs were able to park in Valletta free of charge, saying they paid a special licence of €46.50 annually in order to be exempt from CVA. Mr Abela was reacting to the claim made by the GRTU when it warned  against the removal of the controlled vehicular access system in Valletta. Instead is called  for better administration of the system. In a statement, the Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises said it was shocking that the CVA system, launched in 2007, was running at a loss and the Government had to pay €11.7 million for its operation. Times of Malta yesterday ran a story saying that taxpayers had to stump up almost €6 million to sustain the CVA system as expenditure was twice the revenue. The GRTU said it had made it clear with the new Transport Malta chairman James Piscopo that it had no problem with time-controlled parking, especially during peak hours. It has, however, always been in favour of a capital project for underground parking without which Valletta would never get back on its feet. The CVA system did not fail because it was technically wrong, or because it lacked parking metres,...