One-way system sparks new controversy in Rabat

A decision by the Malta Transport Authority to make a number of secondary streets in Rabat one-way has irked the new Rabat council, which claims the system is being imposed without consultation.

The authority, however, says the changes, which are aimed at easing the traffic passing through Borg Olivier Street, are being introduced on an agreement with the former local council.

All last year, Borg Olivier Street was at the centre of controversy after it was made one way the previous October, against the wishes of the local council, whose mayor was then Rudolph Grima.

The one-way system in Borg Olivier and Nikola Saura streets, with traffic diverted to Kola Xara Street, made residents in the latter street, and in St Mary and Count Roger streets complain that their peace and quiet was being disturbed unnecessarily by traffic which could have been diverted elsewhere. Other residents, among them shop owners, had complained that the new traffic arrangements were keeping shoppers away, while Dingli residents were claiming that they had to go round in circles to get to the centre of Rabat.

Following protests by the council, among others, Borg Olivier Street reverted to being a two-way street. The controversy is strongly believed to have led to the Nationalist Party losing its majority on Rabat council.

Now, less than a year later, a number of secondary streets are being made one-way. New traffic signs have been put up and will be uncovered in the coming days.

The new mayor of Rabat, Charles Azzopardi, said the new council, which was elected last March, was not consulted on the new traffic arrangements being proposed by the transport authority.

He said the authority had only informed the council that if the new traffic arrangements were not implemented, Borg Olivier Street would be made one-way again.

He insisted that any such arrangements should be implemented in consultation with the local council and he would be calling for a public consultation meeting to hear what residents had to say about the subject.

The authority probably had good intentions, he said, acknowledging that the new system would ease the traffic pressure on the two-way Borg Olivier Street.

But the council was not prepared to implement any system without consulting its residents, and the new system was being imposed, he said.

The authority's public relations officer, Daniela Borg Mizzi said the one-way traffic signs had been put up on the basis of an agreement with the former council, when it was decided to make Borg Olivier Street one way again.

The agreement, she said, was aimed at better traffic management and easing the traffic going through Borg Olivier Street.

Ms Borg Mizzi said an agreement with a local council was binding even after new councillors came in.

After all, the new system was designed to be safer and more convenient for residents, pedestrians and drivers, she argued.