Residents fear impact of planned car park

Residents of Qui-si-sana and Tigné are considering setting up an association to boost opposition to the development of a car park for almost 1,000 vehicles under the garden in the area, as well as the construction of commercial outlets on street level.

"We bought our homes as they are, with their surroundings. But it seems that no place is sacred. Can areas be changed against the wishes of the residents?" a number of residents asked.

Over 200 residents had signed a petition against the proposed car park development, for which a contract has been awarded, and the planned diversion of mainstream traffic around the periphery.

They appealed to the relevant authorities "to protect them from the development in the interest of their health and the value of their homes".

The residents have not expressed any interest in meeting the developer to discuss the project because they "simply do not want it". Besides, no one ever consulted them on the project, or on what could be done to alleviate the situation.

Although the residents are not yet aware of any date for the start of the project, they raise the issue at every opportunity, putting forward a number of points against the car park.

The residents argue that the other three car parks that are being built, in addition to the existing CC Car Park, are sufficient. Moreover, they maintain that the CC Car Park in High Street was hardly ever full and its top floor had even been turned into a restaurant.

The area earmarked for the car park was one of the only quiet, open spaces in which children could play, they lamented.

Traffic diversions would also aggravate air and noise pollution, as well as constitute a danger.

The flow of cars through the residential area was projected to reach 3,000 per hour - equal to the volume of traffic on the Regional Road.

They argued that even businesses in Sliema wanted the traffic to continue passing through the main roads in front of their shops.

As regards the building of a restaurant on street level, which would replace trees, the residents pointed out that the catering establishment in the area was only open during the summer months and was left in a state of abandon and disrepair for the rest of the year. It was considered to be an eyesore, dirty and unused, they said.

They said it did not take much to realise that a restaurant in the area was simply not commercially viable and only thrived in the summer months.

Every business that opened in the area soon closed down as it was "out of the way".

The residents also lacked faith in the possibility that the area would ever be landscaped and embellished.