DLH resists Balluta Square plans
The setting up of a terminus for electric buses in Balluta Square would create an unacceptable eyesore, Din L-Art Helwa insisted in a statement this afternoon.
Referring to a proposal by St Julian's Local Council, the environment NGO said the proposal includes a long covered shelter stretching up the road that divides Balluta Square from Balluta Valley. It is proposed that this long shelter would have rows of solar panels installed on the roof and buses parked underneath.
"A shelter and a row of buses parked on this stretch of road would create an unacceptable eyesore for residents and other pedestrians enjoying the charming ambience of the square. New bus parking areas should be sited away from this popular and picturesque site."
DLH said this historic area and several nearby buildings, including Balluta Buildings and Casa Torregiani on either side of Balluta Square, have been scheduled by Mepa. This protection extends to the square itself, with its old kiosk, monument and fountain. This shady square has beautiful mature trees, and is a favourite spot where people gather to sit outdoors in good weather.
15 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
joanne pace
Oct 31st 2009, 15:20
u jekk is sindku jahseb li se ninsew kollox u nikwitaw, l oppost qet nisdiedu bin nies jappoggawna, imur u jiehu il car park ximkien iehor, suppost ikollok sindku li jiddeffendi il localita tieghaw, imma dan l oppost jamel,bill ghajnuna tas sindku ta tas sliema.
Alexander Pace Gouder
Oct 29th 2009, 23:58
@ Alfred Briffa. Habib serrah rashek . Jekk progett ikun tajjeb ahna lesti li naqblu u din mhux issue politika u mhux se naghmlu xi demostrazjoni. Naqblu mieghek li inthom fis-South ghandkom hafna problemi. Ghamlu bhalna u bil-kwiet kollox jigi f'postu bid-DJALAGU. Minn naha taghna naprezzaw dak li qieghed tikteb. Izda ma rridux POLITIKA F'DAN IS-SUGGETT> . Dan biex tkun tista tgawdi din il-Pjazza int ukoll. U f'isem il Group taghna SAVE BALLUTA SQUARE inti Always WELCOMED ma dawk kollha li jigu igawdi il-PJAZZA. Tislijiet u Sahha lilkom ilkol tas-South Maltin Hutna.-
Joe Azzopardi
Oct 29th 2009, 20:59
One wonders where such ill conceived; completely senseless, and frankly insane ideas come from. This project must be stopped!
Peter deMarco
Oct 29th 2009, 20:40
For goodness sake, leave it alone. Having just restored St. Anne's Square after years of eyesore, don't now ruin the picturesque Balluta Square.
joanne pace
Oct 29th 2009, 20:05
as a member of the Balluta Residents association, we want to know what st. julians local council and and maybe if they are involved the sliema local council are up to trying to make a bus terminus whether green or not in BALLUTA. Take your bus terminus with electric cars or what ever new fangled idea to another part of town, such as spinola or near luxol grounds, again i repeat HANDS OFF BALLUTA, NON SI TOCCA
ct busuttil
Oct 29th 2009, 19:13
Hands off this lovely quaint square. It gives many Maltese families and individuals hours of pleasure by its simplicity. The Kiosk management have respectfully retained the charm of olde. Do not destroy another open space. This is outrageous.
ALFRED BRIFFA
Oct 29th 2009, 19:08
KEMM GEJNA TAJJEB F'DAN IL-PAJJIZ....SPECI TA' KULHADD IRID IMUR IL-GENNA IMMA KIF ISSEMMILHOM LI JRIDU JMUTU BIEX IMORRU L-GENNA JAQBADHOM FERH TA GENN!
IRRIDU L-ARJA NADIFA IMMA TA SAN GILJAN MA JRIDUX KJUWIJIET HEJ.....MUR GIBHOM DAWN JOQGHODU HAWN IS-SOUTH KEMM JEQIRDU.
MA TRIDUX JIBDA JISTAQSIKOM JEKK ITTIHX PERMESS LIL GVERN HUX BIEX JAGHMEL XI PROGETT LI JGAWDI L-POPLU KOLLU!
U HALLUH HA JAHDEM IL-GVERN....KONTU TAGHMLUHOM DAWN IL-PROTESTI QABEL MEJJU 1987....MHUX HEKK!!!
Alexander Pace Gouder
Oct 29th 2009, 18:50
I as a member of the group SAVE BALLUTA SQUAREand all those who form this LARGE group (INCREASING IN NUMBER DAY BY DAY) fully agree with Din L-Art Helwa. Our Square and its surroundings are an ART HELWA IN ST.JULIANS. THIS IS ALSO THE VIEW OF OVER 90% OF THOSE WHO LIVE IN BALLUTA SQUARE AREA AND NEARBY STREET.
Peter Bonnici
Oct 29th 2009, 18:40
The St Julians cannot even be trusted with the pavement repairs and reconstruction, and road patchwork, let alone such a major project. And besides what would the point be of having solar panels for roofing at the site indicated when in the morning the sun is hidden behind Balluta Buildings, and after 4.pm (in the summer) its hidden again behind the Meridien Hotel and the highrise flats that stand in front of it. Why have St Julians residents consistently allowed themselves to be lumped with such a useless council?
J Micallef
Oct 29th 2009, 17:47
@ Bernard Mamo
I really don't know. Politicans and local councils must have some really wise guys providing them with priceless advice. I know that the island is going green, but if there is going to be such a terminus, why not locate it at the former 'Tigullio', for instance?
JFarrugia
Oct 29th 2009, 17:12
@Bernard Mamo
The same genuis that thinks a bypass in a nature reserve is a good idea or rebuilding the ww2 bridge or removing the gate from a fortified city. The mind boggles.
Niki Papagiocopulo
Oct 29th 2009, 16:56
Only the St Julian's Mayor and Local Council could come up with such a daft idea. It comes as no surpise that after ruining Spinola Bay with eyesore monuments, etc, the Council is now targeting to ruin Balluta Bay.
A.Zahra
Oct 29th 2009, 16:56
@ Bernard Mamo
Is-Sindku
Julian Borg
Oct 29th 2009, 16:33
I'm as green as they come when it comes to transport vehicle reform, but this square is the only untouched area we have left. Why not St. Julian's in front of Tugulio, or somewhere else on the route it's planning to take.
I just hope this is not the case that they were planning not to do the project to begin with, and they're suggesting a location that everyone would be sure to disagree with, so that months down the line they can say the abandoned the idea because the people said no.
Bernard Mamo
Oct 29th 2009, 16:27
imma dawn l-ideat MIN johrog bihom?!?!