Qui-si-sana 'tsunami'

In another lifetime, Qui-si-sana meant "Here one can stay healthy" and the name Sliema is no description of life there today, as it means peace.

Life can hardly be described as peaceful when you are woken up in the early hours of the morning by heavy vehicles driving to some construction site. The eloquence of their drivers can usually be witnessed by anybody within a considerable distance. We have all experienced the havoc we have to put up with as works are carried out all through the day without an iota of respect for residents, pedestrians, drivers or the law.

Employees drive around in crazy circles in search of a tiny spot in which to fit their car, preferring of course, to park as close as possible to their workplace. Time, temper and fuel costs weigh heavily on their minds as they start a new day at work.

But why do we have to drive to work? Why can't we be more like our European brothers who enjoy a reliable public transport? Why can't our buses reach their destinations on time, and regularly? Why is Qui-si-sana deprived of a bus route that previously existed? There is a demand from residents as well as from tourists hailing from hotels in the area.

Instead of going to the root of our traffic problem, which is the existing shambles of a public transport, we are sweeping the dust under the carpet. The latest craze is to devour more public land to hand it over to a contractor to be developed into a pseudo-car park. The initial permits are issued on a plan drawn up on one criterion but the end product resembles something very different; we have grown wise to this yet the authorities still allow wool to be pulled over their eyes.

I can remember the Floriana car park which was supposed to be completely below road level. Court orders to demolish the illegal development were also ignored and that car park still stands, unchanged. The problem is that some people just do not know how to play fair.

Qui-si-sana is the ideal place for a breath of fresh air, away from crowds and traffic, perfect for opening your lungs and stretching your limbs; in summer its picturesque shoreline is popular with bathers, young and old, residents and visitors, tourists, joggers and fishermen. Not for long if the developers get their way.

This area below the existing, neglected garden has been earmarked for development as a car park plus heaven knows what the small print might camouflage. If the proposed development goes ahead, this will be one of at least four paying car parks in Sliema, and we can kiss goodbye to the peace and serenity which was available down at the beach.

Why? Because some developer wants to build his castle, out of our pockets.

Now why do I suspect that parking space on the streets will become more limited? Just imagine driving down to Sliema on a sleepy Sunday afternoon. In all honesty it has never been easy to park there, but sooner or later, with patience and perseverance, you generally find a spot. You always have the choice of the CC Car Park but you'd rather spend your money in a restaurant. This might become impossible as residential parking in Sliema is likely to become widespread in compensation for a new car park. Remember, our car parks are not cheap, they are not a social handout.

And how will Sliema's aging population cope with the onset of further traffic pouring into the area to make their way into this new car park? Alternattiva Demokratika project an influx of 11 million cars entering Sliema attracted by this car park. Has this problem been considered at all? Even cats, which are much more agile, get run over, let alone our elderly.

Witness the chaos outside the Tower Supermarket, and the exhaust fumes as cars manoeuvre in and out of the CC Car Park. More cars heading for the new car parks will bring more fumes into our homes and lungs as the grigal winds blow inwards into Sliema.

Those streets that will not be enjoying privileged parking will be besieged like never before as everyone obviously prefers free parking. Ask the residents who live a short distance from St Luke's Hospital and who do not enjoy reserved parking.

As things stand today, Qui-si-sana already offers two small car parks at the cost of a few cents (in tips). When the MIDI project in Tigné is completed, the ring road near Tigné beach will be open and available again for parking by the kerb, or won't it? Why is there this insistence on another car park which nobody wants?

I ask the commercial community down at the Strand to join me in protesting against the wave of destruction that is hitting our town and the proposed changes to our life-style.