Association highlights Marsascala's potential

Thomas Holmes

Sep 14th 2008, 18:45

What’s this some kind of a virus creeping in every inlet or bay in Malta. It’s seems highly contagious that marinas should take over these beautiful bays. It reminds me of cinemas once being in fashion and before you know it there were a dozen spread out on the Island competing with one another. Some of them phased out quicker than it took them to open! I say a BIG NO to the Association in being in favour of these filthy marinas. Very few people will get richer on the expense of others. Marsacala needs a determined Council to organize this lovely fishing village. Don’t spoil it and if necessary bar!! this Association from trying to led the way on what’s good for Marsascala. THE RESIDENTS SHOULD HAVE THE FINAL SAY.

Monica Galea

Sep 14th 2008, 17:57

Mr Buttigieg, President of the Bars and Restaurants Association please do not persist in your mistakes for which the bars and restaurants owners are being blamed for. Be honest with the residents. Last week’s pedestrian pilot scheme was a complete failure, both for the bar owners and for the residents and those who visited Marsaskala. Both you and Marsaskala Mayor should be frank with the people and should serve you a lesson that by deciding such matters behind the Council's back and ignoring the residents you are committing a great mistake, that’s making you very unpopular. On my part, I do not care what the Association says but on the other hand I do care what my Mayor says. Our Mayor, by favoring the Bars and Restaurants Community is betraying those who elected him to safeguard their interest.

L Galea

Sep 14th 2008, 16:24

Wied il-Għajn residents should make sure that they only vote for those councillors who declare with a sworn declaration that they will not pedestrianize any streets and fight tooth and nail to prevent Wied il-Għajn bay from being ruined by a marina.

Environment spoilers keep your dirty hands from Wied il-Għajn.

Edward Cassar

Sep 14th 2008, 15:34

It was a positive outcome for the bars and restaurants at Marina street, but why has not the assocition talk to the other catering outlets at Salini Street ?
Do we not pay the same catering permits like the outlets at Marina street if not MORE?
On the days Marina Street was closed for traffic a lot of the the car spaces at Salina Street were taken up by the personnel who work with the outlets at Marina Street leaving no parking for our customers.
Marina Street was closed for traffic not just to be used for people to walk about but so that the catering outllets in the said street could put more chairs and tables in the road .
So next summer if this is going to be repeated as well, are we catering outlets at Salini Street going to be allowed to put more tables outside on the road?

Edward Cassar

Sep 14th 2008, 15:34

It was a positive outcome for the bars and restaurants at Marina street, but why has the association not talked to the other catering outlets at Salini Street ?
Do we not pay the same catering permits like the outlets at Marina street if not MORE?
On the days Marina Street was closed for traffic a lot of the the car spaces at Salina Street were taken up by the personnel who work with the outlets at Marina Street leaving no parking for our customers.
Marina Street was closed for traffic not just to be used for people to walk about but so that the catering outlets in the said street could put more chairs and tables in the road .
So next summer if this is going to be repeated as well, are we catering outlets at Salini Street going to be allowed to put more tables outside on the road?

A. Grima

Sep 14th 2008, 13:50

The Marsascala Bars & Restaurant Association should realize by now that they are a minority, although they are essential to our village. Decisions should be taken after the residents have been consulted. Residents are not only against the closure of Triq ix-Xatt and making St Anne’s Street as a 2-way traffic to boost the shops takings but more so against the new threat of altering Marsascala bay into a yacht marina because it suits the Association. This should be one of the criterias of choosing our next Council.

Lorna Pace

Sep 14th 2008, 13:41

As much as I would like to agree with the M'scala association, I was present during the M'scala week commemoration and reaching the center of town was an absolute nightmare.

While the prospect of a Yacht marina and the attraction of more tourists would definitely enhance the area, M'scala sea front was not designed to be pedestrianised. At this rate, we should be pedestrianising, Fgura center, Paola center, Mosta center, Naxxar center and any other area where some form of commercial activity is taking place. While it is important to cater for the needs of it's members, the M'scala association should not violate cardinal priorities. The parking and traffic congestion problems we face. Reducing our vital arteries in order to accommodate a handful of catering establishments at the cost of Creating a monstrosity in Traffic congestion is too high a price to pay.

Saviour Grech

Sep 14th 2008, 13:22

I would suggest more discipline from the Officials of the Business Association with regards to the illegal fixtures, chairs and tables that had to be confiscated by the Lands Department. We all know that shop owners from an inch they take a foot. No more pedestrian only. I refer to the Mayor, Dr. Josie Muscat in collaboration with the Association, you have caused enough trouble and discomfort to people wanting to frequent Marsascala last weekend. It should have been called Shops Only not free pedestrian only!

L Galea

Sep 14th 2008, 12:32

Agree with you George.

A marina-style berthing will not only ruin the characteristics of the bay, but a marina it will also ruin the bay for swimming.

Re your comments on traffic during the closure of Triq ix-Xatt, it was sheer madness with traffic trying to get through.

Pedestrianization should not be made where there are not enough roads from where traffic can safely and efficiently be diverted.

Residents should come first before the commercial outlets and I certainly agree with you that we do not want Wied il-Għajn to become another Paceville.

If commercial outlets want to they can go to Paceville and open their outlets there

B Agius

Sep 14th 2008, 12:00

Marsascala could well do with many improvements. A small yacht marina would probably be a good thing and a much needed five star hotel even more so. However Marsascala should be retained for family entertainment as improving it to look like Paceville would surely ruin it. In the meantime the Association could do a good deed to improve the place in the short term if it were to convince its members that have establishments in Marsascala now to clean up and spruce up their generally shabby plastic looking establishments. The council could help too be having more rubbish bins and ensure that establishments that serve pizzas etc get their customers not to throw their empty containers all over pavements or worse, into the sea!

F. Formosa

Sep 14th 2008, 11:40

Mr. Buttigieg, President of the Marsascala Bars and Restaurant Association. You do not know the hardship you have caused us residents by transforming St. Anne’s Street into a two-way over the weekend. We will make sure it would not happen again. A petition is underway. Your only interest is just profits. Again developing Marsascala bay into a Yacht Marina is aimed for Business concerns and contrary to what the residents want. We residents envisage Marsascala to be enjoyed by all not just a few boat owners not caring about polluting our swimming zones. We are also aware that the Marsascala Mayor is in favour of this Marina and we are totally against him. He might as well jion your Association and resign from being the Marsascala Mayor.

George Busuttil

Sep 14th 2008, 10:59

The association is only rooting for the interest of its own members. We residents of Marsascala do not want our village becoming another Paceville or Qawra. We would like to see SOME development, like a new hotel instead of the Jerma, but too much will surely ruin our place of residence and will also effect the price of our property.

As for the pedestianisation of part of the watefront I'm sure it was a success especially from the association's point of view but it also created a traffic nightmare at the junction just up from the playinfield with traffic coming from four different directions and no one to control.

Lastly I would like to say that in my opinion and that of many others the bay looks much more picturesque as it is now with boaths berthed all over the bay than it would look with all the boats berthed in straight lines looking like a regiment on parade.