Cynthia Busuttil
Council seeking alternative solution to roads closure
The Msida local council will "most definitely" be pushing for an alternative to closing two main traffic arteries in order to let off fireworks during next week's festa, mayor Alexander Sciberras said.
Dr Sciberras said alternative sites had already been discussed and were still on the table. "We will be working on it," he said, pointing out that the final decision on road closures lay with the police.
The police last week confirmed the receipt of two requests to close the roads to let off fireworks for the Msida festa, adding that these were still being processed.
"I do understand that the closure of the roads causes a huge, huge inconvenience," Dr Sciberras said.
His comments are worlds apart from those made by the president of the Melita St Joseph Band Society, Vince Azzopardi who last week said the roads would be closed for the festa for as long as he is alive, adding that those who did not like it should not pass through Msida.
The closure of the Santa Venera bypass and Regional Road to let off fireworks have year after year drawn angry comments by motorists who end up stuck in traffic, sometimes for hours. The fireworks are let off from a number of fields above Msida valley.
With the two roads being arteries leading to Mater Dei Hospital, the possible closure has also raised concern among the hospital authorities, with superintendent Frank Bartolo saying he could not understand how the closure could even be contemplated.
The mayor expressed his belief that there should be more information about alternative routes to limit the inconvenience if the roads are closed. He has also discussed the issue with the hospital superintendent.
Considering the amount of cars that Msida residents have to put up with - about 90,000 a week - having roads closed for two days was not asking for too much.
"But if we can find an alternative solution which pleases everyone, so much the better. If we can find an alternative site from where the fireworks can be let off, we will solve the problem," he said. Readers have also expressed concern, with some posting comments on timesofmalta.com saying that police should never close such an important arterial road.
"I think it would be highly irresponsible if the police authorities issue this permit," one reader said, while another "implored" the Police Commissioner to ensure that the road was kept open.
An Msida resident complained that his house shakes every time a petard goes off. "Why do my family - and other residents, for that matter - have to put up with his excessively noisy hobby and the inconvenience of closed arterial roads?"
But, although many people have taken it upon themselves to complain against the fireworks, mayors of surrounding localities seem to find nothing wrong with the roads' closure even though the diversions will obviously affect their localities.
Gżira mayor Christian Paul Bonett said that since the festa only comes around once a year people were ready to accept it, adding that closing the roads for a few hours did not cause the same havoc as when Rue d'Argens was closed for months.
Santa Venera mayor Elizabeth Vella said she was not aware of any complaints from residents and the Sliema local council said the subject had never been discussed.
Pietà mayor Josephine Fabri said people would find an alternative road, especially in the evening, and the mayor of Birkirkara, Michael Fenech Adami said the closure did not cause difficulties for his locality.
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In Discussion
12 Comments
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Adrian Cardona
Jul 9th 2008, 21:24
P.Busuttil
I sincerely hope you or your loved ones won't need urgent medical attention at Mater Dei during those "couple of hours" of devoted religious activities....nobody wants to deprive you of those, but you are an egoist to expect to close off two major arterial roads (which do not belong to Msida), and endangering peoples' lives in the process, just so that you can enjoy noisy idiotic useless white bangs in the sky which seriously disturb kids, sick and old people and animals.
And Eric Psaila is perfectly right...most mayors are there to represent minority groups with the loudest voices, and not the majority of people in their localities. That's why I never vote in local councils.
P. Busuttil
Jul 9th 2008, 20:46
@Eric Psaila
I think you are the one out of touch. If you ever been one these feasts you would be probably surprised how many people attend. Are they all fanatics or simply you label them so just because you don't like feasts. I personally don't like airshows, but I don't expect that they are not held simply because I don't like them.
What God given right you have to label people "pagans".
Are you aware of how many contribute in various means to the Msida feast, apparently NO because from your statements you believe that a festa is organized by a handful of people. The people of Msida have to suffer 354 days of traffic in silence and NOBODY cares and their plight. Egoistically you what to deprive them from the right to enjoy their feast which lasts a couple hours, in an environment free from traffic. I am against declarations such as those of the Msida band president, however equally selfish are yours. If you want to have a survey carried out, why don't you personally carry one during the Msida feast you would be surprised who is living on another planet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Eric Psaila
Jul 9th 2008, 17:54
Mayors of Gzira , Sliema, Pieta, St Venera and B'Kara.
Are you so much out of touch with the people you represent. Your comments are an insult to our intelligence. Perhaps you are all living on another planet.
Everybody if fed up of these festas with the exception of a few pagan fanatics.
Stand up and protect the law abiding citizens. Conduct a survey about this issue and you will be surprised how much civilised citizens of your locatilities would like to see the importance given to outside activities of these festas toned down.
joe felice pace
Jul 9th 2008, 14:47
"The fireworks are let off from a number of fields above Msida valley." Is it possible that these fields are beyond the limits laid down by law from where fireworks can be let off? Or have these limits become elastic!!
Mark Casha
Jul 9th 2008, 13:37
I can't believe we even have to discuss this. Why do we still have to put up with people who for the sake of exercising their traditions and hobbies have to discomfort the whole population of Malta? Who on earth do they think they are?
I too live exactly next to where these petards are let off and I still cannot fathom their role in the festivities. They have no aesthetic value, they harass the population, they scare our pets, they pose a threat to anyone in the area... Our area is completely cut off from Msida and the local council and the parish ignore us all the year round except for when they collect votes or money. Then to add insult to injury they let off the unwanted, dangerous and noisy bombs from our backyard? And they expect us to smile and bite our tongues? Over my dead body, Mr Azzopardi.
Etienne Bonello
Jul 9th 2008, 13:09
In reply to KJ Tabone's email, I would like to remind him that in the past that was what used to be done (ie fireworks were given off spectacularly off a barge. then they were given off by the bus station next to the traffic lights. However these alternatives cannot be done any more due to the yacht marina!
I agree with the Gzira mayor who said that the closure only lasts for a few hours.
I personally did not have any problems getting in and out of Msida in the past years, but this is because I live there and know which roads would not be closed to the public! I definitely would recommend the police/ADT to indicate the alternative routes around Msida for anyone who needs to use the roads to get through...
It is not fair that they pick on Msida just because it is where it is....No one complains when Balluta is closed for the tal Karmnu feast or when St Julians' Spinola bay is closed for their feast!
People just need to adapt like us residents of Msida do, with the weekly 90,000 cars passing through our roads!
Mario Mifsud
Jul 9th 2008, 13:01
I put the blame entirely on the police force. If they have to close the road why not put a policeman at the beginning of the b 'kara bypass for example indicating that the road after university will be closed and not let cars arrive at the university junction and telling them then that the road is closed. This is what hapened to me last year. No signs showing that the road will be closed until you end up at the closed junction and no detour is possible except going round the skate brd playing field meet up with the traffic coming up from regional rd and go back on the b'kara bypass. That is you and hundreds of other cars all stuck. With closure of Manwel Dimech bridge we had signs indicating a detour even as far as Ghadira Bay. Jew nejja jew mahruqa. The fact is the police issue the permit close the road and HAVE NO IDEA how to handle traffic.
Adrian Cardona
Jul 9th 2008, 12:54
The mayors of these local councils have evidently been sitting in their air-conditoned offices for too long it seems. What arrogant comments!
To the Gżira mayor: NO, people are not ready to accept the havoc anymore. You're comparing Rue D'Argens with closing the most important junction in Malta? Petty.
To the Santa Venera mayor : did you ever ask your residents about it?
To the Pietà mayor: do they really have any other choice?? I'm sure you would have the same opinion if your loved one is injured in your car trying urgently to get to hospital...
To the B'kara major: evidently you don't live there...all you have to do is look at the tailbacks on the B'kara bypass and people frantically driving through the centre to try and get to Marsa.
And then people ask me why I never vote in local council elections...
KJ Tabone
Jul 9th 2008, 11:12
What about letting off fireworks from the sea like they do for some Sliema feasts? I'm sure I've seen fireworks being let off from Balluta Bay, though I'm not sure whether it's still done.
After moving away from the centre of Mosta, where I was unable to get out with my car on several occasions, I hope that I won't have the same fate now that I live in Msida. I understand closing off of roads in the centre, but arterial roads such as the by-pass is a nuicance as a lot of people make use of such roads. I remember a couple of years ago when I didn't know there was the Msida feast on and suddenly found myself in a traffic jam from hell whilst trying to get to the airport!! I don't think it is fair to impose such closures for the sake of one feast.
Jean Pierre Aquilina
Jul 9th 2008, 10:27
This article makes interesting reading. The comments by Melita St Joseph Band Society are particularly disturbing at best as they highlight an attitude of arrogance which does not contribute to dialogue, nor to appreciation of the inconveniences caused not only by the closure of such roads but also by the loud bangs nearby residents have to endure. It shows an attitude of "we will party come what may and we do not care about the inconveniences caused to others".
At least, stop the petards if the roads must be closed. Spend the money on more colourful displays and the festa will be more enjoyable.
E Serracino Inglott
Jul 9th 2008, 09:31
I remember last year's crazy situation very well. We had had badminton training in Swatar and had to drive via Iklin to go home, regional road closed, we were advised alternative routes by police men near regional road and guess what: we were directed to a closed road! And at that closed road they sent us back to where we came from: pass by Swatar, they said! I'd like to say to the president of the band club: I don't even want to come to Msida but even passing by is impossible when there is the feast! I hope that alternatives can be found because being stuck in traffic is annoying, but it gets really bad if you have to rush to hospital, for whatever reason!
Andrea Pullicino
Jul 9th 2008, 09:23
Why do we even bother worrying about earthquakes in Malta when fireworks are probably causing more damage to our homes. Our house is set against the hill in Valley Road Msida and for the whole festa period the house shakes, the dog is traumatised and we are driven out of the house to try and relax on a well deserved weekend - only to find all access to our house closed!! Working shifts and being shaken awake at 8am is also not very pleasant. Who knows maybe this year we will be able to appreciate the feast and not feel so much resentment towards it.