The long and winding road

The state of Triq it-Tulipan and its pavements, in Santa Lucija, are one horrible mess! No maintenance has ever been carried out on the street and pavements since their unprofessional construction some 36 years ago.

The Sta Lucija mayor and the local council and the Minister for Urban Development and Roads, who is elected from this constituency, are well aware of the state of the street and its pavements. However, they do nothing to alleviate the daily ordeals of the residents.

The mayor has been taking us residents of Triq it-Tulipan for a ride for these last seven years or so. During his tenure of office, all pavements in Sta Lucija were upgraded and either paved with tiles or re-made with concrete but not those of Triq it-Tulipan. Many streets, including streets where only garages were built, were reconstructed and covered with tarmac. Some parking areas were also covered with tiles.

Every time we make representations on the state of the street and its pavements, the mayor and his local council colleagues come up with all sorts of excuses for not having carried out, and for not carrying out, the works.

Can the mayor commit himself publicly and state when Triq it-Tulipan is going to be reconstructed and its pavements upgraded and tiled? And, can the Minister for Urban Development and Roads see to the upgrading and reconstruction of this street and its pavements with the same zeal as he sees to so many other streets in other constituencies?

The state of Triq it-Tulipan was commented upon in the On The Dot column some four years ago. Since then, the state of both street and pavements have deteriorated beyond recognition.

Can the mayor and the minister do something about it now? And, please, can Labour's MP for the constituency, Karl Chircop, who has his clinic in the street, give a helping hand?

Lastly, please, can the minister responsible for local councils and the director of the Local Councils Department ensure that projects relating to streets and pavements paid from the money voted in the budget for the running of the local council benefit all residents of Sta Lucija fairly and equitably?

Why should the courts be the solution?