On the Dot...

Traffic signs in Malta have always been a bit of a joke. They were always in short supply and the lettering on them too small to be seen from a distance that was enough to give one time to change lanes if necessary. The new speed camera signs will not be noticed unless sought out.

Plane Sailing

James Mitchner could, and did, write a whole book (The Source) about the archaeological excavation of a particular site. Yet, the Maltese solution concerning a similar discovery is radically different; pour a layer of tarmac over everything to "protect" it from "further damage". The chances are that people looking at the ruins of the historical places in Rabat would have been intrigued at the rare opportunity to watch a dig taking place in the middle of an inhabited town.

Drop Everything

In Valletta Road, Paola, just in front of the Crosscraft Limited shop and offices, is an unused plot way below street level. Large vehicles are regularly parked at the edge of the sheer drop, with no thought being given to the fact that there is already an amount of subsidence. One day, soon, the whole section of street will collapse.

...That is Needed

In St Paul church square, in Rabat, motorists driving up St Rita Street to turn into St Paul Street have to make a 90 degree turn in a fairly narrow space. Traffic mirrors should be installed for the benefit of those driving into St Paul Street or those driving out of it from Main Street. There have been many near accidents.

Badly Directed

The 2004 Malta Business Directory was unceremoniously dumped on doorsteps this last fortnight. Should arrangements not have been made in advance for the old copies of this register to be left out for collection? Many people must have just placed them in Maghtab-destined garbage bags.

High Flyers

After a rumpus was raised, the solid wall of containers at Blata-l-Bajda disappeared for some time. Now these huge boxes are making a spectacular comeback and the chances are that, come summer, the situation will be as bad as it used to be. Could not a windbreak of indigenous trees be planted to hide the ugly view from what is probably the most-utilised stretch of road on the island?

Stoned Walls

Great Siege Road, in Valletta, all the way down the side of the Phoenicia Le Meridien Hotel, is in a dire state. In places, whole chunks of wall have fallen out and weathering and pollution are making the situation worse. Will the whole thing have to collapse before repairs are taken in hand?

Mirror, Mirror...

In Qormi Road, in the area that falls exactly between Marsa and Hamrun - in front of Bellizzi Photo Studio - there used to be a convex mirror that warned motorists of traffic coming along the other streets in this dangerous junction. Its pole was twisted, and the mirror broken, quite some time ago, with all that remains being one half of the back of the mirror. As a result, there are frequently near misses and frayed tempers, but, at least, so far there have been no fatal accidents.

Water Waste

The open area adjacent to the Floriana Health Centre, specifically the part of the pavement in front of the Labour Party bar, has become an unofficial bring-in site. On Easter Sunday, the mound of rubbish included a broken toilet bowl and other assorted bulky refuse.

Horse Sense

The general idea is that wardens and policemen must pay attention to motoring contraventions but, apparently, this rule applies solely to fuel-powered vehicles. Why is it that the drivers of karozzini are allowed to get away with the idea that they are kings of the road? How is it that they can whip a horse, covered with foamy sweat, just to make it slalom between motor vehicles, with impunity?

Self-Contained

In Triq-il Bacir, Paola, across the road from The Scorpion are the remains of what used to be Acris (Containers) Limited. The building has been broken into and is apparently no longer a safe structure. It ought to be razed to the ground or repaired and put to better use, because with such easy access, malingerers are finding it tempting.

Streets Ahead

The bottom layers of stones in the walls bordering the Centru Hidma Socjali and the Vincenzo Bugeja Institute, in Sta Venera are badly in need of repair and/or replacement. Some of them have crumbled and are being held in place only because they are attached at their borders to neighbouring stones.