Xemxija Hill - a consultative diktat

The road and promenade at Xemxija Hill are being rebuilt and redesigned. The promenade is being given a much-awaited facelift and we are having pavements laid in front of our houses for the first time ever. These works are commendable and a relief for us residents.

The design of the road is another matter. Some three or four years ago, the residents of Xemxija were called for a consultative meeting by the local council, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority and the Roads Department on the development of Xemxija Bay. The meeting was held on a Saturday morning at the parish church hall. Strong objections were raised about various matters including the yacht marina as well as the development of the road in Xemxija Hill.

Notwithstanding the objections raised by the majority of those present to some aspects of the proposed development, the powers that be (the St Paul's Bay local council, Mepa and the Roads Department) stuck steadfast to their development brief for Xemxija Bay.

A few months later, the projected road at Xemxija Hill was presented to the DCC Board for approval. The meeting was open to the public. Not to be accused of vested interest, the chairman of the board, who lives at Xemxija Hill, did the honourable gesture of leaving the meeting. The then director of roads spoke against the proposed plans and suggested that it makes more sense for the smooth flow of traffic for the St Paul's Bay by-pass to be connected to the Mellieha by-pass through Mizieb. The residents present also strongly objected to the proposed plans. The DCC board voted against the proposed development of the road at Xemxija Hill. Nothing was heard since.

Out of the blue, work started on the stretch of road from Xemxija Bay Hotel to the Beachhaven. They started changing the balustrades along the promenade as well as projecting the pavements near our residences. We were informed by the workmen that the road was to consist of a narrow one lane for traffic going to Mellieha, one lane for traffic going towards Valletta and one lane for parking on the promenade side of the road. On checking with the local council, we were informed by the mayor that the plans for the redesign of Xemxija Hill had been approved by Mepa and that was how the road was going to be done. He said that we had time to object to its design and that now it was too late to do anything about it. When challenged that we had objected to it as explained above, he reiterated that there was nothing one can do but accept the situation.

What a consolation! What a farce of the term consultation! The traffic will be passing right past our residences. Instead of proposing a lane for parking on the side of our homes, Mepa, the local council and/or the Roads Department have created a major danger to the lives of residents. Our wives are expected to cross a very busy thoroughfare with their hands full of shopping baskets in order to reach their homes.

Our elderly and children are also exposed to the perils of this road that has maimed and killed. The Franciscan nuns that run a home for young children will have no option but to be confined to their house. To get out of our garages, we will have to reverse on to two lanes of on-coming traffic. This is sheer madness! No amount of zebra crossings will lessen the dangers which are to be compounded by someone in an office, who does not have the faintest clue about this road. People have been run over at the only zebra crossing there is, by the Beachaven.

Let us be clear and unequivocal. If someone is maimed or killed due to the ill-planning and dangerous design of this road, someone must be held accountable. Who is responsible for its design and proposal? The local council? Mepa? The Roads Department? Who? The parking lane should be by the pavement of our residences and not on the other side of the road by the promenade. There is still time to amend the proposed lanes. Better late than sorry.

In concluding, we would like to appeal to the Minister of Roads, Jesmond Mugliett and to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to investigate the contents of this letter and if found to be valid, to hasten in meeting the concerns of us all. Please redesign this road for our safety's sake. Let the will of the people prevail if we truly believe in consultancy and please beware who is sabotaging the public works that are being carried out, even if the threat is coming from within.