Speed camera in Iklin

I refer to the letter by Louis J. Bartoli regarding an application for the installation of a speed camera in Geronimo Abos Street, Iklin (October, 13). Allow me to clarify some facts for the correspondent.

The Iklin local council is part of the Birkirkara Joint Committee of Local Councils for regional local enforcement. The request for the installation was submitted to the joint committee by the council during a meeting in mid-October 2005. In November 2005, the committee asked the contractor who supplies and installs the speed violation devices to prepare a logistical report to install a fixed unit in Notary Zarb Street, Attard and in Triq Geronimo Abos Street, Iklin after a mobile speed camera request was turned down by the Malta Traffic Directorate.

Subsequently, the contractor prepared and finalised the report and an application was submitted to the Malta Traffic Directorate. The Attard camera was approved and installed in May 2006. However, the Iklin site application was kept pending due to logistical problems, and not bureaucratic delays. As a resident of Geronimo Abos Street, Mr Bartoli knows that this street is fully urbanised and the street characteristics make it difficult to locate where the camera can be installed. A mobile speed camera was the ideal solution for the problem but the authorities are at present not authorising the use of such cameras.

In the meantime, the government announced that a Local Enforcement Committee will be set up, and all permits for speed cameras, including pending ones, must be submitted for reviewing. The Iklin council, through the joint committee, is subjected to these new regulations and shall fully abide by all directives given by this committee.

One must agree with Mr Bartoli that Geronimo Abos Street is being used as a short cut and heavy vehicles speed through, making this stretch of road dangerous to pedestrians.

Local wardens are being constantly deployed in the area but it is important to understand that, without any speeding violation device, no contraventions can be issued. I suggest that Mr Bartoli consults the joint committee's website for any updates on speed cameras, www.bkr-jointcommittee.com.