Labour would halt Qui-si-sana project

A labour government would stop the Qui-si-sana car park project, Opposition leader Alfred Sant declared yesterday.

Dr Sant told a press conference that Qui-si-sana had parking spaces and large recreational spaces. The North Harbours Local Plan said that for the car park project to be viable, there needed to be parking restrictions in Sliema. However, Dr Sant said, it was not right to restrict parking in Sliema to benefit one privately-run project.

Since 2002 and up to last week, the government and MEPA had failed to give Sliema council the plans for the proposed project and, he said, the mayor and the deputy mayor voted against holding public consultations.

The MLP disagreed with the project as proposed and there needed to be investigations for matters to be conducted transparently.

He also referred to the proposed Chalet car park project saying this needed to be reviewed. He said that according to what was said at a meeting between the contractor and the council, the parking would be available only for use by a commercial project. The project as planned would lead to the destruction of several caves, the Labour leader warned.

Dr Sant said the Nationalist-led Sliema council had only implemented 55 per cent of its promises. Only a few pavements were resurfaced, and in many cases the work was shoddy and did not last long.

Road resurfacing works also left much to be desired. Manwel Dimech Street had to be dug up three times and in Rudolph Street, two four-inch water pipes cost the council Lm70,000. Nothing had come of promises for schemes to restore house façades. Parking facilities had not been improved, and neither had road safety. Traffic plan consultations were only being held now as the elections approached.

He said Labour candidates wanted serious residents' parking schemes. There needed to be better management of surface parking and a review of how reserved parking slots were allocated.

Labour candidates also wanted to introduce more efficient services for elderly people and would work to reduce pollution.