Qui-si-Sana - an appeal

The letter of October 24 titled Xemxija Hill - A Consultative Diktat is an eye opener to all and sundry. The Qui-si-Sana Residents Association fully sympathises with the residents of Xemxija as we are experiencing the same arrogance on the part of the authorities. The residents of Qui-si-Sana in Sliema are undergoing a similar unpleasant and unnecessary episode.

Way back in 1999 a brief was published proposing the construction of a car park underneath the gardens of Qui-si-Sana. Public consultation followed with the residents objecting for legitimate reasons. Notwithstanding these objections a call for a tender was issued but no application was received. Obviously, the residents thought that this proposal had died a natural death.

How wrong they were. Suddenly, out of the blue, in 2002 the Malta Environment and Planning Authority issued a new brief for the construction of a car park on three levels plus a fourth floor for commercial use and a kiosk above ground level. The residents protested but were told that no public consultation will take place as it was already carried out in 1999. How insensitive can one be? The people continue to insist on fresh consultation, as this is a completely new brief.

The PN members of the Sliema council either refused to meet or refused to help the Qui-si-Sana residents. The Prime Minister has ignored repeated appeals from both residents and more recently from the Sliema council itself.

It was the AD and MLP councillors who listened and agreed to take up our case, pointing out the inconsistencies and impracticalities contained in the brief and even swinging a council vote asking for the cancellation of the tender for the destruction of the gardens.

A document prepared for Mepa shows the serious implications and consequences of impracticability if the proposed car park is constructed.

"It can be seen that conditions for motorists will be far from ideal... results of a car park may be of concern because they have negative implications for safety, usage and the future ability to promote traffic and environmental measures in Sliema town centre."

The same report goes on to say that motorists "would experience very noticeable delays and queues". To add insult to injury the report is based on 1994 data, when traffic levels were far lower.

In conclusion, we appeal to the Minister of Roads, Jesmond Mugliett, to seek ways of reducing the entrance of traffic into Sliema rather than creating structures that will attract even more traffic than now. If we truly believe in consultation let the peaceful environs of Qui-si-Sana prevail. Let us not aggravate the traffic problem in Sliema but work towards finding ways to alleviate the pollution and congestion that exist.