Sliema promenade being washed daily

The Sliema promenade is being cleaned and washed on a daily basis on the initiative of the local council.

Cleaning and washing of the highly frequented promenade is costing the council about Lm580 a week, mayor Albert Bonello du Puis told The Times.

Work starts at 3 a.m. from Tower Road near the Carmelite Convent, covering the Tigné seafront up to The Strand, including Bisazza Street.

Mr Bonello du Puis said the cleaning of the promenade was always the responsibility of the local council. However, this was the first time the council was also commissioning the washing of the area. Previously this was done by the Malta Tourism Authority about once a week.

Council executive secretary Lino Bartolo said that in collaboration with the Tourism Ministry the council was offering a service whereby household refuse was being collected from the area at 10 a.m. He said the usual service, which starts at 2 p.m. would continue as usual.

He said the public convenience was being opened until 11 p.m.

Mr Bartolo pointed out that offering such extra services meant an extra cost and he urged the public for more cooperation. "The council still notes that people litter everywhere, walk the dogs and allow them to litter along the promenade and the beaches," he said, adding that refuse collection bags were being taken out from early morning instead of at 1 p.m. while litter bins were being stolen and vandalism was high.

However, he said, the council believed it would succeed in its aim to keep the area clean with the help of the people who were already aware of such a need and others who would start to appreciate the council's effort to have a better environment.