Parking plea is rejected

By MOHAMMED AL A'ALI
RESIDENTS of the Capital Governorate will not be allowed to put up covered parking on public land near their homes because it takes too much space, said the Manama Municipal Council.
A group of residents had requested the council to come up with a rule that would allow them to set up shaded areas.
Councillors, however, refused permission for the shades, saying these were inconvenient and inappropriate.
The council's technical committee studied the proposal and advised councillors to reject the request.
"The shades take space from the road and not from the owner's land," said committee vice-chairman Jaffar Al Qaidoom.
"Most of the neighbourhoods are narrow and with the shades, ambulances and fire engines can't enter during any emergency."
Mr Al Qaidoom said that giving permission for such a request would have been unethical. "This means the person has reserved the parking space for himself, without the neighbour having the right to park there," he said.
"These shades make parking place exclusive for the person who has set them up, when the road is a public property that everyone should be allowed to use."
Councillors were also requested to issue new licences for goldsmith workshops in the old Manama Suq area.
Existing ones have been instructed to get clearance from the Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife and the Health Ministry or else close down.