Nestor Laiviera
Pilot pedestrian project at Buġibba promenade
Access to the promenade in Buġibba, from the quay to Ħalel Street, is to be restricted to pedestrians during the evening this weekend and on the following two, with traffic being diverted as part of a pilot project by the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA), the St Paul's Bay local council and the St Paul's Bay Bars and Restaurants Association.
The traffic restrictions will last from 8.30 p.m. till midnight. They were tested over the weekend of Santa Marija, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Mario de Marco said yesterday.
The feedback was "good overall", with various outlets registering an increase in custom, he added.
Parking arrangements have been made, he explained, and an agreement was struck with the Sirens Club allowing visitors to park near the club for €3.50.
A free bus shuttle service will run from the Sirens parking area, stopping at the parking place near Ta' Fra Ben, and moving on to the centre of Buġibba.
Residents with garages in the pedestrian zone will be permitted access.
The MTA plans to organise various activities for the duration of the pilot project, including Maltese traditional music, folk singing, face painting, animators and performances by a bag-pipe band.
Due to problems in establishing alternative routes, public transport buses will still give their service to the Buġibba promenade along normal routes.
To safeguard against accidents, speed will be restricted to 10km/h. This will be enforced by two police officers and wardens.
The pilot project, Dr de Marco said, was aimed at improving both "the commercial and residential aspects" of Buġibba.
In four weeks' time, a meeting will be held to determine whether the experiment will be applied in the coming summer periods. He did not exclude the possibility that similar projects would be carried out in winter when Buġibba will be quieter.
9 Comments
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Sandro Grech
Aug 24th 2008, 00:23
At last something has started .Can I bring the attention to the area Manager of MTA and the local council of St Pauls Bay about some eye sores in bugibba . there is a broken pavement right opposite Primera hotel its been broken for the last 6 months . Broken telephone boots in the square rusty no phone handles . Lamp post opposite ex concorde hotel no bulb since October 2007 .
f gauci
Aug 23rd 2008, 23:02
Everything that the SPB local council has ever worked for has always favoured the bar, hotels and restaurants' owners. It seems that things haven't changed one bit since the change of mayor. This pilot pedestrian project is of very little if no benefit for permanent SPB residents, but it will be great for bars, .... The local council has been allowing bars and restaurants to have kerbs turned into an extension of the premises, with chairs, tables and big pots making it difficult for pedestrians to walk. (Well, another good reason to walk on the street is to avoid the filth on the pavements!) Residents would prefer the local council to do something about the parking problem, cleanliness (or the lack of it), education and so many more serious matters rather than putting into practice futile projects.
Michael Scicluna
Aug 23rd 2008, 22:36
Mr Abela you have surprised me you could be right but I have given up sending emails to the Council for one thing or another to be corrected, nothing big like a broken lamp , an alley way that needs cleaning etc and this is not just for my satisfaction but for the numerous people that use these requirements but to no avail. I asked to have a schedule of the Council's meetings I was asked to subscribe to the email notification since the last general meeting in March I have not had one notification does that mean there were no council meetings or what.
Except for other activities that the Council sponsors, liek outings and so on.
Thank you keep up the good work we need people like you who take notice, Itreid but was ot as lucky as you.
Peter Abela
Aug 23rd 2008, 19:56
Making The Promenade a Pedestrian Zone has nothing to with face saving. Its an initiative taken by the Very Local Association of the Bars and restaurants. An Associan that presents its cases to the council and those that seem viable set in motion. Maybe the BUgibba and Qawra Residents can take their example anf form their own association and sit down at a table and discuss all the shotcomings.
THE COUNCIL HAS HAD MANY ATTEMPTS TO FORM RESIDENTS ASSCIATION TO NO AVAIL. So please come forward and lets get things done together. Till now the council has managed to organise two associationsand would like to have more set up to understand our vast area better. Maybe now is the right time, and surely the council can do with more ideas as how and where to introduce RESIDENTS PARKING SCHEMES, NEIGHBOPURHOOD WATCH( Third attempt), EFFECTS MOF THE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY AND BEST WAY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS. So please come forward and lets get round the table and discuss to find solutions. LEt the council understand your problem and you understand the council problems.
Through discussions there a are solutions. TRI IT, THE COUNCIL IS READY TO DISCUSS. ARE YOU?
Michael Scicluna
Aug 23rd 2008, 17:43
I have nothing to add to the previous comments, very valid, hope we can see some positive action on these comments. ' IF WE WANT THINGS DONE IN OUR VILLAGE, WE OUGHT TO DO THEM LIKE WE DO THEM FOR OURSELVES IE TOP NOTCH'
KEEP IT UUP EVERYBODY.
David J Cassar
Aug 23rd 2008, 17:08
Once again, an attempt for a face-saver for the Local Council. Bugibba has been TOTALLY neglected by the powers in being, i.e. Local Council. Dirty, mismanaged, lack of street markings, inadequate parking facilities, sidewalks that are coming apart, bars that have "spilled" without any control on sidewalks, chaotic dangerous construction sites....... just walk off the promenade onto any side street to appreciate what I am stating. Now, how innovative, the promenade is closed for traffic so as to render Bugibba "attractive”. A real permanent solution to the problem!
George Saliba
Aug 23rd 2008, 15:30
Yep, I was there, Friday 8.45pm walking at the Bugibba Front in the so-called pedestrian area. But the people walked on the sidewalks! I had to do the same because every so often a bus would come by. Then a black taxi. Soon a white taxi. 3 private cars also passed within 5 minutes. Did I read their maximum speed should have been 10 km per hour?Rubbish. Even the band had to do an improvised side-step to allow passage of these privileged vehicles. Good thing this is a pilot project. I say no half measures. Either have a real pedestrian area where one's mind is at rest 100% or not at all.
Daniel Jones
Aug 23rd 2008, 13:27
"public transport buses will still give their service to the Buġibba promenade along normal routes"
So they have turned the promenade into a bus lane for the weekend evenings. How nice for the bus drivers. Pedestrians still cannot use the road as we all know the contempt public transport drivers have for the general public.
Charles Micallef
Aug 23rd 2008, 10:48
What an excellent and long overdue idea, let us now hope that this will be coupled with giving the permanent residents priority over parking, as done successfully in a number of towns and villages around Malta. In the peak season, it is impossible to find a parking spot and we end up prisoners in our own residences. The situation gets worse every year.