FAA, AD opposes Balluta Square car park
Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) and Alternattiva Demokratika have, in separate statements, opposed proposals by St Julians council to build a carpark for 130 cars at Balluta Square.
The environment NGO said Balluta Square, established a century ago, is one of the few open spaces available to St Julian’s residents, offering pleasant shade beneath the trees’ spreading canopy.
"No amount of landscaping and compensatory planting would re-create the atmosphere of this treasured old square which is much sought-after by tourists. Some of the trees that would be jeaopardised by these plans are old protected Maltese oak (ballut) trees , which species gave the square and the locality its name. Too many established protected trees in the area have already been cut down to make way for large-scale developments along Balluta valley, projects which only take into account commercialisation, and fail miserably to consider any social and ecological negative impacts," FAA said.
It called on the authorities to issue an emergency conservation order on the old trees, along with scheduling of the old square.
"Given the proximity of Balluta Buidlings, one of Malta’s finest architectural landmarks, a scheduled Grade 1 monument, FAA also requests the designation of a protective buffer zone around this vulnerable old building."
AD statement
Alternattiva Demokratika spokesman Carmel Caccopardo said all plans should be published and adequate public consultation should be held before any decision is taken.
"AD agrees with residents that Balluta Square is unique and must be preserved. Residents, their guests and visitors should be able to continue enjoying one of the few open spaces in the area. A car park will attract even more traffic to an already traffic clogged area which is already served by a private car park," Mr Caccopardo said.
"The actual square should remain substantially as it is at present and enhanced further by planting more oak trees to replace those which died or went missing.”
26 Comments
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Kevin Mulligan
Nov 8th 2009, 11:30
What is St Julians council playing at? First they try to keep all hidden from public knowledge- no wonder! One of the last havens of greenery and open space in St .Julians has to be wrecked as well. Shame!
Jamie De Cesare
Nov 8th 2009, 11:12
Whoever has come up with this concept doesn't have Malta's history and culture at heart. This square is one of the nicest open spaces on the island. The St.Julians Council should be well ashamed of itself. At this rate, all there will be left for future generations to see will be cranes and monstrous blocks in the area.
Mark Anthony Portelli
Nov 8th 2009, 11:10
@ C Scerri.
Yes They should be ashamed because the majority of the councillors are pn members and one or two are from the balluta area.
Also there is a car park which is managed and operated by the LC Near the Hotel.
If the LC wanted to do some good therefore they should concentrate their resources on the Spinola Bay Area and the vanished sandy beach at Balluta.
Plus i dont have any problem with the PN - i have with a few ppl representing it and messing around wth it.
Margaret Richards
Nov 8th 2009, 10:29
Have we gone actually bananas in this country??? So the parking in Sliema is going to be next to impossible, and at the same time a parking area will be creating by ruining a beautiful square/restaurant area in front of the sea. What's the matter??? Is the mayor mad or what??? It's like robbing Peter to pay Paul. Or perhaps is there some entrapreneur who is going to win a tender to carry out works to create a parking space??? Isn't it enough that we are witnessing hideous grey buildings sprouting everywhere while demolishing existing buildings?? Now a square which is so popular with Maltese and foreigners alike is the latest brainwave of our local councils. And this counts for all the other places which are being ruined to created either ugly high rise cage like flats or other types of buildings. What is MEPA's view on all this??? Is it going to remain silent??? It has to be Malta!!!
C.Scerri
Nov 8th 2009, 09:00
@ Mark Anthony Portelli - you seem to have a problem as you have onlyone idea in your mind - that is to tell the PN that it should be ashamed!
What has this got to do with the PN - it is an initiative of all the St Julian's Council and I would have said ST Julian's Coucicl you should be ashamed.
On this one I agree 100% with both FAA and AD - Ballutta Square should remain the same - if anything restore it to its previous glory!
Patrick Bayliss
Nov 8th 2009, 07:28
Please leave Balluta square in peace. And do some thing to arrange Balluta bay by doing some thing like St. Gorges bay.
Mark Anthony Portelli
Nov 8th 2009, 00:27
If this project was proposed by the local council of st julians they should all resign !!!!!!!!
PN SHOULD BE ASHAMED
M. Robertson
Nov 7th 2009, 23:55
The mayor has written one letter to this newspaper telling us absolutely nothing otherwise
he seems to be ignoring us completely. The one thing he did do is promise a meeting,
will he give us a date or has he changed his mind about that too. There has been
silence too from the member of parliament who lives closest to Balluta Square.
Does he not have an opinion on the matter?
P.Mifsud
Nov 7th 2009, 21:42
With the money spent on the project, the council could easily rent two floors at the Le Meridian Hotel car park for use for the Balluta residents. Isn't this a better idea than ruining such a picturesque square? Also, if the Mayor of St.Julians was the wise guy who recommended this project then he should stand up and be honest with the residents. Unless this is a bad joke!!!!
P.Mifsud
Nov 7th 2009, 21:15
@J.Farrugia ... What are you referring to when you mention "St.Julians Local Council keep up the good works which you are doing"? What on earth are you talking about? If the St.Julians Local Council and/or the Mayor is proposing a car park in Balluta Bay, then they should resign and should resign right away and hope one does not hear from them again !! LEAVE the Bay alone.
Oreste Calleja
Nov 7th 2009, 20:17
No matter how badly parking is needed at Balluta... destroying the one single characteristic locale of us Balluta residents is unimmagiable. Preposterous! Other countries find ways of giving access to visitors to pedestrian areas and public places without degrading the environment - why can't we?
anthony pace gouder
Nov 7th 2009, 20:02
I am eagerly awaiting a reply from the St. Julians Mayor in defence of his united Council proposed u/g Carpark .
This in view of the fact that in a recent letter he stated that ' THE SQUARE IS NOT PART OF THE PROJECT '. Does this mean that carpark has been shifted somewhere else close-by ?
Which reminds me that along the bay there are traffic signs indicating the way to a CARPARK!!! Ironically just a stone throw away (across the Road) from Balluta Square intimately known to us GILJANIZI VERI as TAHT IS- SIGAR.
Who needs this Proposed Carpark at BALLUTA when there's already a Carpark ?
Presently the parking around the Square is not well planned / organized . Just over 30 odd cars can park .
Minor modifications along the Squares' perimiter and at the upper end could easily accomodate the 120 /130 car target ,the crux of this controversy... and all will live in peace ever after . SAHHA .
Buttigieg Franco
Nov 7th 2009, 19:24
While I have to agree once more with the stand taken by the FAA, that this area is not to be disturbed. I would like to know if the local council has calculated the environmental cost to the community this proposed project would incur. I also have to question if the said council addresses issues based on corporate social responsibility (CSR) before presenting proposal to destroy valuable resources belonging to the community or does the council think that it has a divine right to operate its business as it wishes?
I would like to remind our councilors that they are appointed as caretakers on behalf of their local community to protect, maintain and administer local resources be they environmental, historical, social or economical which agenda does not include the destruction of vital community resources such as Balluta Square.
sandra pace
Nov 7th 2009, 18:19
Exactly ,leave the square alone, they (the council) will build a car park and leave the square intact. we all know this is far from the truth,we have been proved right on many projects, once u damage its difficult to go back, we dont need more pollution in Balluta, a car park should be built on the OUTSKIRTS of a small overpopulated town like Balluta. LEAVE OUR JEWEL ALONE AS SOMEONE SAID , GOD BLESS BALLUTA
R MIcallef Trigona
Nov 7th 2009, 17:58
As a St. Julian's and Balluta resident I am against transferring the bus terminus formerly at Spinola to Balluta.
@Joanne Pace: Please provide contact details for the Balluta Residents association as I would like to join.
Stephen Borg Cardona
Nov 7th 2009, 17:51
Leave the square alone ! Its lovely !
Tony Fenech
Nov 7th 2009, 16:59
What's in us to destroy the beautiful??? I would like in future to see a prominent placard at Balluta : 'St. Julian's L.C. are to be commended for saving Balluta Square from wanton destruction '
Alexander Pace Gouder.
Nov 7th 2009, 16:48
My comment further down was made before FAA issued their press release. FAA has also hit the nail on its head. LETS KEEP BALLUTA SQUARE AS IT IS NOW ,FOR US AND OUR FUTURE GENERATION AND FOR ALL Maltese, Gozitans and tourists and ALL, TO USE AS IT STANDS IN ITS NATURAL UNIQUE BEAUTY. TREES, SEA,VALLEY. WHAT A SIGHT OF FRESH AIR AND ENJOYMENT> Lets keep polution as little as possible and not increase more cars in this area by this car park.
a cachia
Nov 7th 2009, 16:33
St. Julians Local Council - Hands off our jewel ( Balluta Square ). Let's hold the public hearing to the discuss the proposed project without any further delay. What's keeping the Local Council from organising this meeting.
joanne pace obo Balluta residents association
Nov 7th 2009, 16:08
WE residents of Balluta and St. Julians realise there is a parking problem especially for non St Julians residents but a car park in or under Balluta square is not the answer. We residents of St. Julians, Balluta, Sliema, San Gwann also value this beautiful recreational spot, unique with the valley behind the sea in front. To destroy this square rebuild it again ,making Balluta a polluted hub deprive its residents of this beautiful open space for 130 car spaces, does not make sense.I plead for good sense to prevail in finding another suitable spot outside a densely populated area like Balluta for a car park venue.
ALEXANDER PACE GOIUDER
Nov 7th 2009, 15:30
@ J.Farrugia. God Forbid if the St.Julians Council works against the good of us all who live in St.Julians. Yes the Local Council does good things .Hats off for this. But this Car Park Project for St.Julians in BALLUTA was started on the wrong foot without any consultations with those concerned. From my part and here i am airing only my personal view all that has been said by Alternativa regarding this square is all correct. This is not a political issue and this can be seen by the support we Balluta Residents are getting from all sides. Members of all three political parties, MPs from both sides of the House and there is more to come as you will be hearing in the coming days. The really issue is that a car parking problem does exist. But a Car Park FOR ONLY 120CARS under Balluta Square (even if the surface and trees remain untouched) unless the surface by accident!!!!!!!!!!! gives in and the trees all die because of their roots being exposed during the digging.!!!!!!!!!!! IS NOT WANTED. Balluta residents want the present familier atmosphere and that no more traffic concentrated to start / end from this square. .
Rita Portelli
Nov 7th 2009, 14:57
Balluta Square may be the last original bit in this area. Kindly leave it as it is: we do not need a care park to attract more traffic congestion. Use the Luxol as carpark or make arrangement with Meridien to use theirs. Don't people use park and ride to go to Valletta? And so it should be here. Luxol is not far away anyway.
Joseph Galea
Nov 7th 2009, 13:54
Are these plans available for viewing anywhere?
Joseph E Briffa
Nov 7th 2009, 13:45
I see no need for another underground car park at Balluta when there is already a vast one close by. It would be a sheer waste of money plus the hassle and the damage that will be done to the trees in the square.
Stephen Farrugia
Nov 7th 2009, 12:14
The Rightwing agree with AD (leftwing) on this issue and encourage their new leader to find common ground with other issues.
(Sliema)
J Farrugia
Nov 7th 2009, 12:03
St Julian's local council - Keep up the good work which you are doing. You are working on behalf of the people of St Julians interests.