Aug 04 - Chief Minister Officially Opens Mid Town Car Park

The Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia and Minister for Transport Paul Balban today officially opened the new Midtown Coach and Car Park.

This facility provides 40 covered parking spaces for large coaches as well as parking for the smaller Coaster buses and around 1000 spaces for cars. Nineteen parking bays have been designated for blue badge holders and thirty bays fitted with electric charging infrastructure. Energy efficient lighting has been installed throughout and occupancy sensors help drivers to find available spaces.

With effect from 7am on Sunday 14th August, the Pay-as-You-Go system will be in operation. Local residents in possession of an eID card (no pin number required) or a Civil Registration Card will be able to park at no charge from the hours of 7.45am to 7pm and overnight, from the hours of 7pm to 7.45am at £0.40 per hour or part thereof. Tariffs for non-residents will be charged at £1.30 per hour from 7.45am to 7pm and £0.80 per hour for overnight parking throughout the hours of 7pm to 7.45am.

In order for the new systems to be activated, it is essential that all vehicles are removed from the car park by 3pm on Saturday 13 August. This does not apply to owners and renters of car park spaces.

The Minister for Transport, Traffic and Technical Services, Mr Balban, said: “I am extremely pleased that the Midtown Coach and Car Park is finally complete and ready for official opening. We believe the car park will provide an excellent covered and secure parking facility in the centre of town.”

Mr Picardo, said: “The combination of Gibraltar’s booming economy and its small geographical area will always put pressure on parking spaces and there just isn’t enough space for everyone to be able to park wherever they want to.

"However, my Government is constantly looking to increase the availability of parking spaces for residents and visitors and I am delighted that this new Midtown facility now offers over 1000 spaces, 688 of which will be available as from a week on Sunday free for residents during the day. That is more than double the number that were previously available where the Commonwealth Park now lies.

"We have seen overwhelming demand for rental of spaces here to be introduced for residents and for more sales. We are going to shortly make announcements about further sales and rental spaces. We will also soon be making announcements about the introduction of an efficient and well enforced residents’ parking regime throughout Gibraltar.

"This will also favour those in the town area who find parking around their residential areas is often the most in demand from people outside their own residential zones. We will also continue to improve our bus service as an alternative method of travel and to look for additional ways to provide Gibraltar’s motorists with somewhere to park.”

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