1,000 car spaces as Midtown Coach and Car Park opens

The Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, yesterday officially opened the new Midtown Coach and Car Park providing “more parking than ever before in Gibraltar”, he said.

This facility provides 40 covered parking spaces for large coaches as well as parking for the smaller Coaster buses and around 1,000 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 14 August, the Pay-as-You-Go system will be in operation.

Local residents in possession of an eID card or a Civil Registration Card will be able to park at no charge from the hours of 0745 to 1900 and overnight, from the hours of 1900 to 0745 at £0.40 per hour or part thereof.

Tariffs for non-residents will be charged at £1.30 per hour from 0745 to 1900 and £0.80 per hour for overnight parking throughout the hours of 1900 to 0745.

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.

Speaking at yesterday’s inauguration Mr Picardo said the facility would provide parking for residents in the area and those accessing the city centre, for those who come to visit Gibraltar in the many coaches coming to the Rock every day.

“This is a facility for residents of Gibraltar, it’s a facility for residents of the town area, it’s a facility for those who come to the town centre; to work or to shop and for those who are coming to visit Gibraltar,” he 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,” Mr Picardo added.

“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.”

He also addressed concerns expressed by some members of the Gibraltar Taxi Association that spaces designated for coaches and taxis had been taken up by coaches.

“They don’t need to worry about the facility that is going to be provided for them,” he said adding that the GSLP/Liberals have a manifesto commitment to provide parking spaces for taxis.

“It is not something that any government has ever done before; they’ve been allowed, casually, to park in the context of the coach parks before.”

“This government is making specific provision and they could give us a bit of time and not bite the hand that feeds them because we’re the ones who have been most specific in our commitment to the Gibraltar Taxi Association and to the Gibraltar Taxi trade,” Mr Picardo said.

The Minister for Transport, Traffic and Technical Services, Paul 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.”