I would like to enlighten readers about what is really happening due to the new Msida one-way system. I will follow the points Carmelo Grima, mayor of Msida, wrote last week in his letter:

2. Before the one-way system started operating there were three ways to get to Regional Road from Rue D'Argens: School Street, Tower Gate Street and Hriereb Road. Now there is only one - School Street which is clearly becoming the bottleneck of the area.

3. I must agree that most of the signage is correct and the local wardens at the right places to fine offenders of this new system.

4. Driving down to Gzira from Tower Gate Street was never a problem - even before. However, one should now be on the lookout for: a) if you are a driver - for the buses which have permission to go up against the one-way sign, and b) if you are a pedestrian - for the cars overspeeding downhill with no apparent oncoming traffic. Will we take action only when a tragedy occurs? Where are the sleeping policemen?

5. A meeting was held at the Msida Primary School prior to the implementation of the system, however the residents' suggestions were ignored and we were told that the system is now set, this is only a trial and we have to see how the system will affect us before taking up new suggestions. I do not recall seeing a GRTU representative and if there was one what was his name and when did he speak?

6. It is incredible that the mayor received favourable comments with regard to the new system. Where they from the Msida parents who double park their cars on School Street and Msida Circus to walk their children safely to Msida Primary School and St Frances School daily, creating an even bigger congestion during school hours? Or from residents who have no choice but to drive up School Street and get stuck in the traffic in order to get home after a hard day's work? Or university students who use the university's back gate and now have to join the other commuters in School Street up to Msida Circus to create a circus indeed?

As a resident, I understand that the new system was implemented to facilitate our daily needs, however now the council should admit that it is not working as it was originally intended to. Maybe the council should have consulted the ADT in the first place before taking action.

A few suggestions the residents would surely appreciate could be the following: implementing parking for residents only and a time-frame for non-residents (like the ones in Sliema and Pieta?). Maybe parents could park properly and walk their children to school safely without double parking; Making Tower Gate Street two-way again at least up to E.H. Furse Street so traffic can turn up to Hriereb Road where one can have the choice to either turn to University Street, Nazju Falzon Street to Msida Circus or right out to Regional Road as one requires.

I hope the council understands the urgency and need to revise the system or otherwise scrap the one-ways altogether. If the council still insists on the present system and gets its way, we residents will have our way next time when the elections are due!