Martin Bonello, Sliema
Balluta Square car park
The mayor and local council of St Julians should better get their priorities right and focus on the areas of St Julians closer to the restaurants and entertainment scene where there really is a parking problem, and leave Balluta Square alone. Balluta Square is on the outskirts of St Julians and relatively tranquil compared to the hub of activity from Spinola Bay upwards towards Paceville.
In his letter to The Times (October 21), Mr Bonello tries to portray himself and his local council as some champion defender of local residents. His claim to want to mitigate the parking problems for the local residents is not sustained by any facts. On the contrary, potential parking spaces for residents are being given away to accommodate commercial enterprises at an alarming rate. Examples are in St George's Road, where an area which can hold 10 residents' cars has been marked for unloading only and part of Church Street has been permanently closed to traffic, denying residents numerous parking spaces.
Mr Bonello needs to better acknowledge that St Julians is host to numerous restaurants which draw thousands of locals and tourists to this area. Most of these restaurants had to pay a contribution to the commuted parking scheme. Patrons will not bother to come to St Julians restaurants if they cannot find any parking place. Does the mayor and local council of St Julians really believe that diners are going to park their car in Balluta Square and walk into the heart of St Julians and back?
The solution is one. Forget about car parks in Balluta Square where there is the Meridien car park anyway, and find a site around Spinola Bay as soon as possible.
Popular Stories
In Discussion
8 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
L Mulligan
Nov 1st 2009, 13:47
Arrogance knows no bounds. THEY have spoken . Another botched up idea - Of course, everywhere has been haphazardly built up why not Balluta square and the valley. By the way, are there any private interests in these projects?
joanne pace
Oct 26th 2009, 16:15
well done martin bonello you understood straight away this plan and how mayors and council s let temselves be used by businesses and entrapreneurs and dont give a damn if joe blog or mary blog loses her square, .well done indeed.
Anthony Pace Gouder
Oct 25th 2009, 08:38
WHAT IS THIS ? Such an unthinkable , ridiculous and stupid project IS TOTALLY unacceptable ! The ST. JULIANS Councillors would by now know of the proposed PARK & RIDE at LUXOL . Besides the triangular shape and the size itself of the square renders this underground parking unfeasible, for the small number of cars that it would accomodate. I HAVE always wondered how the Local Council or the AUTHORITY conserned( ADT ?) never tried to re-plan (organize) the present surface parking ! I calculate that at present hardly 30 vehicles park, but this can be increased to 65 - 70 .
John Smith
Oct 24th 2009, 21:53
Please note that those balluta trees are protected and cannot be distroyed. Why haven't they planned this before the building of that large hotel/appartments by using it's under ground for a
general public car park. But don't touch that beautiful piazza of Ballutta?
Rosalie Freestone-Bayes
Oct 24th 2009, 17:45
Maybe it would be a good idea to build a multistorey carpark nearer Bahar ic-caghak and use a free Park and Ride system to Sliema and St.Julian's, thus alleviating the current problem for hundreds of families wishing to enjoy their visits there.
Rosalie Freestone-Bayes
Oct 24th 2009, 17:38
Hands off the sqaure in Balluta Bay.!!! We cannot stand by and watch another gorgeous site being corrupted.There should be a preservation order on this magnificent pjazza.It is an oasis in the centre of a very busy area -- a haven of rest ,enjoyment and relaxation."A thing of beauty is a joy forever" and it IS a thing of beauty,which should not be desecrated.Hands off "taht is sigar" as locals affectionately kjnow it.
D Spiteri
Oct 24th 2009, 14:47
Rather than accomodate cars why not accomodate people?. Keep the cars out and give the streets and squares back to the people. In any case under the car park at Spinola is mostly landfill claimed back from the sea . A car park at Balluta would ruin yet another square for the sake of even more pollution....and Mr major,don't even think of moving those public convieniences simply to accomodate the hotel so they can grab another bit more land.
Josette DeGabriele
Oct 24th 2009, 12:50
Thank you Martin Bonello for raising a solid and logical argument against building a car park at Balutta Square. Let us hope that with the grace of God, Mr Bonello of St. Julian's council and his mignons can comprehend this logic - and please let's hope that logic will prevail!!
Balutta Square is very special. To this day it captures the values of a bygone era, when people used to meet in the evenings, have a drink, enjoy the view and be social. It is a haven for the elderly, for families with children, couples and tourists alike. Why does St. Julien's council want to destroy this by building a car park, even if underground, when let's face it, the 'action' is right down the other end at Spinola Bay and Paceville?
Here is an idea - dig up that plot called a car park, outside the supermarket in Spinola Bay and develop instead a multi-level underground car park? Even if the land is privately owned, I am sure an agreement could be reached. This is Malta after all. Save Balutta Bay and its Piazza!