Traffic management at Tal-Qroqq area

The Msida local council is proposing that the ADT implement a chaotic traffic management scheme for the Tal-Qroqq area. On October 8 the council, of whom I am minority leader, sent a letter in the form of a ballot to Msida residents who would be affected by the scheme asking them to vote either for proposal A, the scheme endorsed by the council, or proposal B put forward and endorsed by the GRTU.

At a meeting of the council I had objected to the council's proposal, arguing that it would be more beneficial to residents were the flow of traffic to go up Tower Gate Street rather than down, while retaining the part of Tower Gate Street from Jerry Zammit Street up to Victor Denaro Street as two way.

Unfortunately the council did not agree with my proposal that it would be quicker for traffic from Jerry Zammit Street to go up the distributor road i.e. Tower Gate Street. Instead it wanted to divert the traffic through Michele Bellante Street, Giovanni Schranz Street, Victor Denaro Street, and up School Street, all secondary roads which would become clogged by traffic. Besides, School Street, as its name implies, runs next to our primary school with all the attendant hazards it would bring.

I also argued that it would create less pollution for traffic going up Tower Gate Street to Msida Circus than having it meander through four minor streets. To lessen pollution I suggested that Tower Gate Street be barred to heavy traffic; but to no avail.

The mayor's proposal was shot down in turn by the residents of the affected area. In my home visits most of the people I talked to regarding the proposed traffic schemes were in support of proposal B. I hope the council will be man enough to heed their wishes. After all it is the residents who will be most affected by this absurd traffic scheme the council is proposing.