Forgotten traffic plan leads to nightmare at St Paul's Bay, Buġibba

During the day, especially during the week, St Paul's Bay and the Bugibba are relatively quiet. Come the evening and traffic becomes a nightmare. Sometime last year, the local council distributed a traffic plan that got the approval of residents, both permanent and those who only come for the summer.

Nothing has been heard any more about the plan, although the rumour is that the Traffic Control Board did not give its approval. Did the members of the board visit the neighbourhood, and if so, at what time and day did they visit?

The comprehensive plan covering the area within Triq Sir Luigi Preziosi, Triq il-Kaħli, (Triq Iċ-Ċagħaq), Triq Bordino and the interconnecting streets is essential, even if some ideas might tread on somebody's toes. With the closing of Dawriet il-Gżejjer during the weekends, driving through these streets has become an ordeal. To complicate matters, within a radius from St Luke Street there are some eight hotels, none of which has parking facilities.

And to aggravate matters, nearly all of these hotels have extended the pavement, thus removing the bays for coaches which have to stop in the middle of the road. This is apart from the fact that many parking bays were lost. Hotel guests are at a loss where to park, but come the crack of dawn and intrepid wardens have a field day issuing parking tickets, especially to drivers of K licence plates.

Does this represent a double income for the council? The extended pavement is allowed against the payment of fees (licence) and then they share from the parking fines.

But who cares? I am at a loss from where certain traffic norms were copied, parrot fashion. It seems only British standards apply in Malta, forgetting that Malta is no longer a colony but a full member of the European Union.

An imaginative, positive thinking and creative approach is called for. The Malta Environment and Planning Authority collected (collects) payments from business establishments that cannot provide adequate parking facilities. What happens to this money? It should be used exclusively to provide alternative parking facilities.

I can show and explain, to the proper persons ready to listen and act, how much of these problems could be solved with very little expense. That is, unless there are those who would prefer to receive their share from the parking fines. It might be better practice and more lucrative to fine faulty lights, lack of indicators, irresponsible driving and many other dangerous practices. What happens in the interim period between one VRT test and another? But for these you need traffic police and not inexperienced slapdash wardens.

Will the proper authority(ies) have the decency to explain what is going on?