Swieqi petition attracts more signatures

In spite of reassurances given to The Times on Monday by Swieqi mayor Alfred Curmi on the need for a one-way system in the locality to prevent accidents, the number of signatures against the proposed change continues to grow.

The number has now reached over 250 and the campaign to collect more signatures continues.

The council, at the urging of the Malta Transport Authority, is planning to make Triq is-Sidra one-way going up towards the Corner Store but the group behind the petition feel this will cause unnecessary inconvenience.

"There may be an argument for making one stretch of the road one way - that between Triq il-Gabilott and Triq il-Qasam - but not the whole road," Joseph Micallef, one of the group backing the petition, said.

"It would merely lead to more speeding, which would then have to be counteracted through speed calming measures.

"It does not even make sense to have the one-way system going up - that is only being dictated by the direction of the route bus."

He said the pleas for a one-way system were part of a campaign against a planned development on the street, which was now "history".

He also feared that making the road one-way would merely cause more problems on other streets.

"Don't forget that Swieqi has only a few points of access and that Triq is-Sidra is one of only three tributaries leading to the roads that go to the exits.

"A one-way street is an inconvenience and should only be considered when it is solving an even greater inconvenience.

"It should certainly not be considered until there is better access to the locality to ensure a logical flow."