Joe Chetcuti, Marsascala
Pedestrianisation of Marsascala roads
Doctored photo of Triq ix-Xatt shows two wide pavements and the one-way road wide enough to permit parking on one side.
The middle two-page spread about Marsascala Day on September 7 (September 12) was a colourful and accurate short account of the activities held by the Marsascala local council the previous weekend. Well done to the organisers, helpers and all concerned.
The experiment of pedestrianising Triq ix-Xatt certainly added to the atmosphere. This experiment was liked by some but went down badly with others, particularly some residing in Triq ix-Xatt and Triq Sant'Anna, who were deprived of parking next or near their homes for the duration of the experiment. All have their valid reasons, both those residents who do not like this pedestrianisation and traffic arrangement and the organisers and the Marsascala Bars and Restaurants Association.
What I would like to point out is that, in the absence of better traffic arrangements that would necessitate an adequate roads infrastructure and, possibly, promoting some secondary roads to main road thoroughfares, some other improvements could surely be considered and carried out in the meantime.
One such improvement that would certainly enhance Triq ix-Xatt all the year round and not just in the summer weekends would be the widening of the pavement by the bars and restaurants and limiting the parking to only one side of this one-way street.
I amateurishly toyed about with photo-manipulation software to come up with a doctored photograph of how Triq ix-Xatt could look like with two wide pavements on each side.
One thing is certain, Marsascala needs attention as much as it needs to have decent approach roads leading to it from Żabbar. The bypass may be in the pipeline but I hope that, first, the old road from Żabbar gets a new surface because in its terrible state it will surely not be adequate to handle all the traffic that will be diverted through it while the bypass is closed.
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Peter Caruana
Sep 21st 2008, 18:47
The end justifies the means. Mr. Chetcuti once you air your views in public you are prone to criticism. It seems that you have forgotten what you have written in your article. You started by praising this so called experiment in pedestrianisation of Triq ix-Xatt and to add insult to injury you overacted on last week's center page account. You must admit like always in this locality the residents have no say and it was down to the Mayor, Dr. Muscat and the Shop's Association together with the Parliamentary Secretary to decide what's good for Marsascala. So much so that the Mayor in the mentioned center page article decided on his own accord to extend this idea over next years' summer weekends regardless of the heavy criticizm and sufferings it has caused to residents and the people trying to enter Marsascala just to boost the shops takings. You must understand that not everybody frequent the Bars and Restaurants. Many come to Marsascala to enjoy a pleasant walk. To crown it all many of the catering establishments declared losses in their tills. So what's good about this idea? Mr. Chetcuti I cannot come cleaner than this.
Joe Chetcuti
Sep 21st 2008, 15:11
Starnge as it may seem to Mr Peter Caruana and co, I have a mind of my own so much so that I was never in favour of completely pedistriasing off Triq ix-xatt and nowhere in my letter have I said it should be. What preoccupation Mr'Caruana. You're completely off your mark. What I do believe is that a compromise such as the widening of the pavement in question could be more feasible, attractive and if it boosts business all the year round than good luck. That's exactly what we need, more local work opportunities in any sector. It's a pity that as soon as one comes up with a suggestion, out come the cannons, not against the message but against the messenger. Yes, and I stated so, Marsascala needs attention in many areas but if you have a thriving attraction spot you would definitely stand a better chance of seeing improvements elsewhere. Come clean please and be constructive.
A.Cassar
Sep 21st 2008, 08:01
It seems that Mr. Joe Chetcuti has overlooked the frenzied reaction by Mr. Reuben Buttigieg President of the Shop owners Association regarding the over praised center page, claiming that his Association had nothing to do with the information published in this said center page article. A note from the Times Editorial Board unveiled that the information was given by the Marsascala Mayor, Mr. Mario Calleja. Strange but true the Mayor has done it again in order to take all the credit he published that article without contacting first both Dr. Josie Muscat the brains behind the experiment of Marina Street pedestrianisation and the Shop’s Association. It is evident that there is a tug of war between these three. War of the Titans!! sod the residents..
Peter Caruana
Sep 21st 2008, 06:53
Mr. Chetcuti lets put the cards on the table. You are supporting the idea of pedestrianisation solely because it originated by your Leader Dr. Josie Muscat representing GIM. Your photo montage speaks for itself that in Marina Street there is no need for pedestrianisation for the promenade is wide enough to accommodate all. Your preoccupation boils down to one thing to widen the pavement on the shop’s side and reduce parking to one lane or to reduce the width of the promenade to favour the widening of the shop’s frontage along Marina Street so that shop owners can spread their tables and chairs. It’s like robbing Peter to give to Paul. Point in case, the immediate reaction by another shop owner in Salini Street, Mr. Cassar wanting his pavement to be enlarged. Great idea instead of spending public funds where needed we will end up spending them to accommodate the likes of shop owners. Thumbs down!! The attention of the Council should be focused more in the upkeep of residential areas, 'il-Maghluq' fish ponds, St Thomas area, Bellavista and Zonqor. Marsascala is in a state of collapse.
Albert Spiteri
Sep 20th 2008, 18:31
I see the point in what Mr. Joe Chetcuti says about boat owners in Marsascala bay. We the residents of Marsascala already suffer a lot because of their egoistic and bullish attitude. That is exactly why I wrote what I wrote. We residents not only suffer from their taking over of our bay, but also from their weekend-in-weekend-out domination of many of our parking areas. These people do not give a fluke about laws and regulations and should be treated for what they are, that is, egoistic and bullish lawbreakers. I have no reason to doubt Mr. Chetcuti's honest intentions. I have no reason to disbelieve him. However, I also say that widening the pavement where bars and restaurants are already abusing their legal limits is close to giving them an open cheque to go on with their invasion of public areas.
What Mr. Stafrace says regarding the diminishing space for parking if such an idea would catch ground is so very true. He also was right in his conclusion that less parking space results in less business for those gulous businesspersons.
joseph stafrace
Sep 20th 2008, 16:28
I must say I fully agree with Albert Spiteri and I. Galea. As for the Catering establishments please try to look beyond your nose; if the authorities were to take up your suggestions of widening the pavments in both Triq i-Xatt and Triq Marina thus reducing these streets to one side parking only, you will be exsacerbating the parking problem thus encouraging people to shift to other locations: end result less business.
Joe Chetcuti
Sep 20th 2008, 16:01
Let's clear one thing , I do not have any business interests, bars or restaurants in Marsascala or anywhere else for that matter. I just happen to think that having a coffee or a meal outside any establishment adds to one's enjoyment. Whenever I'm abroad I enjoy the atmosphere that such a setup provides, if organised. I agree with Mr Edward Cassar that this pavement wdening should also apply to that part of triq is-Salini as well. The fact that my idea may not be new does not bother me, firstly because if it was already proposed than it should have been made public and secondly if it is a good idea it shloud be brought up again and again. As for a marina, there will also be for and against like anything else in this world. Can Mr Albert Spiteri really say that the residents do not suffer the egoistic and sometimes bullish attiude of present boat owners in Marsascala bay. Try to find a place for new small boat if you can.
Albert Spiteri
Sep 20th 2008, 14:47
I fully agree with I. Galea.
The bars and restaurants on Marina Street and elsewhere in Marsascala should be totally and completely deprived of all the space they occupy on public pavements. Pavements are made for people to walk, stroll or run upon. Certainly not for turning into business extensions for the sole benefit of the owners of restaurants and bars. Catering businesspersons have far abused people's patience in Marsascala, and everywhere else for that matter.
I am most certainly sure that our Local Council would never even consider allowing Marsascala to degenerate into another Bugibba, or another Qawra or a Marsaxlokk. The residents want our village to get all the improvements it deserves and needs. This most certainly does not include a take-over of public space by greedy businesspersons and those egoistic, bullish yacht owners, whose interests run directly against those of the local residents.
l Galea
Sep 20th 2008, 12:10
The catering establishments only want the widening of the pavements for their own greedy ends to be able to put more tables and chairs on them.
Authorities please leave the pavements as they are now and do not allow the catering establishments to put their tables and chairs on the pavement. The pavement on their side is wide enough.
And please do not even consider any application for a marina.
We want Wied il-Għajn to remain as it is.
A bay where people can swim and enjoy themselves, not a sewage system or cesspool for yachts.
Wied il-Għajn RESIDENTS and those who enjoy Wied il-Għajn, not catering establishments, rise up and stand for your rights.
Edward Cassar
Sep 20th 2008, 11:37
Mr. Chetcuti your idea is not new because I heard that the Marsascala Bars and Association already proposed it.
While I believe it is a good idea I would also like as well that the widening of pavement will be constructed at Salini Street ,as even here there are restaurants and bars. It will not be fair on us who have catering establisments at Salini Street if Salini Street is used just as a parking lot , like it happened during the pedistration of Triq ix-xatt. By 17.30 hrs on the days of the pedistration of Triq Ix-xatt a lot of car spaces at Salini Street were taken up by the workers of the catering establishments of Triq Ix-Xatt with no parking for our customers.
I do hope that if there is going to be any changes of traffic manegment next summer, us catering establisments at Salini Street are given our chance to have our say. ( at least !!!)