Facelift planned for Merchants Street, St John's Square

Shop owners, Monti hawkers and members of the public are being asked to make suggestions on government plans to upgrade and pave St John Square and part of Merchants Street in Valletta.

The part of Merchants Street that will be given a facelift will stretch from the roofed market to Auberge de Castille.

The whole project will cost an estimated Lm500,000.

The six competing designs sent in to the Valletta Rehabilitation Project may be viewed at the VRP's offices at the lower end of Republic Street for the next two weeks between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Suggestion forms are available at the VRP's offices.

Speaking at a news conference at the VRP's premises, Valletta mayor Paul Borg Olivier yesterday said that an adjudicating committee had drawn up a shortlist of two applicants for the job, although public comments are being requested on all the designs before the final decision is taken.

The committee, chaired by Dr Borg Olivier, includes two members from the Ministry for Resources and Infrastructure, two from the Chamber of Architects and two from the local council.

VRP executive coordinator Ray Bondin said the work was expected to start during the last quarter of this year and would be carried out in phases in order to cause the least possible disturbance and inconvenience.

The first phase to be tackled will involve St John's Square and the project is expected to be concluded in two years' time, he said.

The brief for the upgrade includes arrangements for the open air market that operates on every morning except Sunday along Merchants Street.

Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said the upgrade would conclude the facelift of Valletta's commercial centre, following the paving of Republic and Zachary Streets.

The project was welcomed by those who will be most affected by it.

Leonard Cassar, owner of the Diesel, Levi, Kookai and Dockers stores, said it was high time that the area was revamped.

"I am all in favour of the improvement which could nudge owners of property to clean up façades and refurbish the apertures.

"The laying of new services and the paving should be carried out with the minimum of inconvenience. My company employs 25 workers and the disruption to business should be kept to a bare minimum," Mr Cassar said.

Monti hawker Joe Aquilina, a member of a committee representing 116 hawkers, said all stakeholders should be involved in this project.

Michael Zarb, owner of Petrolea and a member of the Merchant Street Business Association, pointed out that the association was one of the bidders for the project.

"This part of Valletta is in dire need of an upgrade. Merchants Street should be properly lit at night to highlight the architectural splendour of the palaces that are concentrated in this short stretch.

"Cafeterias and restaurants should be allowed to put out tables and chairs and the whole area turned into an oasis for visitors and tourists alike," Mr Zarb said.

Advertising signs and the remaining wires overhanging the street ought to be removed to give a ship shape look to the area while silver aluminum shop fronts should be replaced by material more suitable to this shopping precinct.

In its Grand Harbour Master Plan, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority had suggested that Merchants Street ought to be traffic free, Mr Zarb argued.