The rehabilitation of Qawra and Buġibba

A year into the new administration, it is very evident that the St Paul's Bay local council is in full swing with its upgrading projects, new projects, usual maintenance and contracted services. The continuous upkeep of the Qawra/Buġibba area, with the help of the Infrastructure and Environment Ministry, extends from the repair of pavements and the adjoining railings to all street furniture along the promenade.

To further embellish the area the council will in the near future be placing flowered planters on the promenade complemented by multicoloured festoon lighting.

This is the first phase of a programme to have the entire promenade embellished, with the second and third phase in the coming years.

An upgrading project is also under way on the main entrance to the area, Pioneer Road.

This project has started with the planting of flowers in the previously abandoned soft areas at the side of the road, changing the barren high stone walls on the other side of the road into hanging gardens, the taking down of boundary walls around other soft areas and giving a more colourful image by planting more shrubs and flowering plants, and the replacement of all pavements in a very bad state with a more adaptable red brick effect.

Least but not last, about €400,000 plus is being spent on the resurfacing and road markings of most of the arterial roads. Such a project was only possible with the co-financing of the Transport Authority, the local council and the Malta Tourism Authority with the ADT being the main project financier.

The council is projecting more upgrading in Burmurrad, Wardija, Xemxija, St Paul's Bay and bordering localities.

Such works require a lot of careful planning, discussions and budgeting.

The council's efforts, with the cooperation of many government entities, can boast of achieving results.

There is still a long way to go but the challenges ahead will be overcome especially in infrastructure.

One cannot be so optimistic on other main challenges like vandalism, cleanliness and the safeguarding of public property, where the vital cooperation of the public is needed.

These are challenges that not only hurt the pockets but worse, they hurt one's image.