Council drops Balluta car park project

Jonathan Camilleri

Apr 13th, 09:46

Well, most places would have done with a car park, was the plan ever revised? In any case, what about other localities, such as Hamrun, Valletta, Birkirkara and basically every place you have to park your car? The problem does not seem to have been resolved by the new "Arriva", right?

Galea. L

Dec 1st 2009, 09:27

Franco Farrugia
I congratulate the Si Julians residents for stopping the threat to their environment but could the same be said for the Marsascala residents on whom Eddie Fenech Adami and Gonzi rode roughshod?
The fact that the St Julians residents got their rights and stopped the arrogant local council development should be an example for the Marsascala and neighboring residents to take it up and get their rights and have the Sant'Antnin plant dismantled. It was presented and approved on false plans and submissions and the auditor's report was prohibited from being published. WHY? What does the Government have to hide on the Sant'Antnin plant? The Marsascala and neighboring towns residents are not children of a lesser god. Or was the decision taken to disregard the Marsascala and neighboring towns residents because the PN knows that it does not have a majority in the Southern part of Malta?
Have a look at the analysis of a report on the Sant'Antnin plant on http://www.cnimalta.org/sa.html where you can also find a masters thesis on the The Basle Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, Basel, 22.03.1989, in force 24.05.1992, 28 ILM 657 (1989)

joanne pace obo Balluta residents association

Dec 1st 2009, 09:25

thanks to the newly formed Balluta Residents Association and all the residents who supported Balluta SQUARE and voiced their dissapproval to such a disgusting programme, the project has been scrapped. I hope that the green bus terminus will be scrapped too, as its not useful anymore without the car park, and frankly it was going to be another ugly sight,.Abig thanks to little Balluta, little but tough.

Joe Portelli

Dec 1st 2009, 05:26

I agree with Rita Dimech Portelli - the council seem to have missed the 'consultation' stage. Disregarding consulting and involving residents to contribute ideas well before any meeting would ahve set an agenda and many would have been able to identify with the needs and likely to have a majority either for or against.

Council is on a suicide mission !

Victor Degabriele

Dec 1st 2009, 04:59

Now that the Sliema `s people won their case and the BALLUTA CAR PARK finish.The council should start working and cleaning the streets and the closed shop with behind the shatters full of papers smell of cats and dangerous for fire ,its the council responsabilty its to dangerous it should be by law,its degrace to leave this to happen.I been coming to Sliema for five years, in Emanwel Dimch str. there is at lest 8 shops its a degrace never been clean all this time.I see this time when I come back.

Peter Bonnici

Nov 30th 2009, 23:37

@ Ronald Gauci
Is-sit tat- Tigullio qieghed diga kwazi livell mal-bahar, forsi 3 jew 4 metri fuqu, allura problemi ikollok malli thaffer taht f'dan il-livell. Trid tqis ukoll li hemmek huwa wied. Il-problemi li hemm hemmhekk huma simili ghal dawk li kien ikun hemm il Balluta, specjalment kieku haffru hi 4 erba sulari fond gol blat, f'qieh il-wied.
Il-problemi jibdew jissolvew meta nidraw nimxu ftit, u mhux irridu dejjem il-karozza ma saqajna.

D Farrugia

Nov 30th 2009, 23:28

Silly idea in the first place. Waste of money in architect and professional fees. You had better spent that money elsewhere St Julians council like putting suitable tarmac on all primary and secondary roads.

m pace 2

Nov 30th 2009, 22:28

This victory for the common goal and well done for the local residents and the resistance without any waste of time for the action issue groups and keep it up and our next step is to keep the pressure on the council before its change their minds
Victiory similar as the knights of St.John fought against the Sarasins and keeps in minds the battle has just started and keep united Sliema / St Julians locals.

Clive Gerada

Nov 30th 2009, 22:09

Better if he finds a soltuion on how to use Balluta square now... cos it's always empty...

Ronald Gauci

Nov 30th 2009, 20:51

Jekk vera hemm bzonn ta' parking area ghala ma jitkabarx jigifieri nhaffru l-isfel fil-fond dak li diga hemm essistenti quddiem it-Tigulio? Jekk isir dan zgur li aktar facli u ma jamilx il-hsara li kienet se ssir go Balluta u jkun ikbar u vicin iktar Triq Regjonali li hi arterja ta' Traffiku w Paceville , ma jkunx hemm bzonn mekanizmi strambi biex jahdem ma tridx tkun xi Einstein !! Nahseb li kieku Alla hares sar dan il-progett xorta n-nies kienu se jhallsu biex jipparkjaw go fih allura mhux ahjar jipparkjaw go ta' Le Meridien li l-bicca l-kbira dejjem vojt u naf x'qed nghid ghax kont gej u sejjer bit-turisti hemm !! Nahseb li kieku isir xi diskussjoni mas-sid ta'din il-lukanda u forsi jitranga ftit il-prezz mhux ahjar milli dejjem vojt!! Prosit lir-residenti kollha li salvaw lil Balluta taghna u b'hekk nistghu nibqaw ngawdu l-ftit sigar li fadal go tas-Sliema!

T Cilia

Nov 30th 2009, 20:21

Well Done! It's a relief to see that sometimes the people's complaints are heard and action taken. Malta would be better off if this happened more often!!

E. Vassallo

Nov 30th 2009, 20:13

@Peter Bonnici. Prosit-spot on. I still do not know why an underground carpark at Balluta!!!!!!!!!why not at the former tiguglio site where there is more easy access to the arterial roads. The proposed carpark would have created more bottlenecks at the tiguglio junction and near the balluta building turning to enter the carpark.

Peter Bonnici

Nov 30th 2009, 19:42

@ R Gauci. Ma kien progett tajjeb xejn ghax ma kienx mahsub. Biex jikkrejaw 120 post ta' parkegg kienu ser inehhu xi 80, allura dan ix-xoghol kollu kien ser ikun ghal 40 karozza biss. Il-parkegg taht il Meridien ikollu madwar 350 post vojt tmur x'hin tmur, u bil prezz tal EUR1.15c fis-siegha m'ahniex nitkellmu flus. Il-parkegg ma kienx ser inaqqas it-traffiku, anzi kien izidu ghax ihajjar aktar nies jersqu l'hemm kieku kien jirnexxi bhala progett, imma la tal-meridien kwazi dejjem vojt ma nistax nara ghalfejn dan kien ser ikun success. It traffiku lejn tas Sliema u San Giljan ma tehlisx minnu malajr, imma il-parkecc peress li 'l-mekkanismu teighu idum xi 7 minuti biex idahhal u jtella karozza, ara xi 'kju' kien jibda johloq. 10 karozzi biss idumu aktar min siegha biex jidhlu kolla. Nahseb il-kunsill u kull min jaqbel mieghu mhux talli ma jarax sal ponta ta' mniehru, imma b'ghajnejh maghluqa ihalli min imexxih min imniehru u jdahhlu gol-hajt. Ghal min ihobb jigi San Giljan jew lejn tas Sliema, ejjew bil qalb kolla ghax ghandna pjacir b'kulhadd imma tridu tkunu lesti li timxu naqra, bhalma nghamel jien kultant. Bit tajjeb jew il hazin taghhom, m'hawnx post go Malta ahjar minnhom.

lzammit

Nov 30th 2009, 18:40

I am told by a person who lived for some years in Buenos Aires and who used a car park similar to the one justly discarded by the San Giljan LC that power cuts there were quite often and that when these occurred chaos in traffic reigned supreme with clients being unable to retrieve their cars!!

R. Gauci

Nov 30th 2009, 18:22

Kien progett tajjeb hafna li kien se jghin lill-post, residenti u l-kummerc. Issa la r-residenti kuntenti b'hafna sewwieqa jduru ma kullimkien biex isibu fejn jipparkjaw u ppakjar fejn gie gie minflok kollox organizzat good luck to them. Viva min jara sal-ponta ta` mniehru. Altru milli se jonqsu l-karozzi lejn dawk in-nahiet, kull karozza li se tmur se tispicca ddur 3/4 darbiet ma San Giljan sa ma bniedem isib jipparkja, kif ilu jigri snin.

Peter Bonnici

Nov 30th 2009, 18:03

@ Donavan Galea jekk ma tafx, il-kunsillieri Laburista appoggjaw il-progett. Fil fatt il-kunsill kollu kien favur 100%. Allura jekk in-Nazzjonalisti ghandhom direzzjoni ghal-gol-hajt, allura il-Laburisti, bhal-moghoz, dritt ghal-warajhom.

Nigel Lawrence

Nov 30th 2009, 17:44

Comment about "Council drops Balluta car park project"-- Splendid. Power to the people.

Vicki Soler

Nov 30th 2009, 17:30

Well done to the St Julians Council for having done what we residents wished for, that is to drop the car park project. After all we have voted you in for you all to work in our interest and not against us.

Rita Dimech Portelli

Nov 30th 2009, 16:45

The council should have held a meeting with us residents well before coming out with the proposal of the carpark. They would have saved time and money. From what was said at the meeting it was obvious that idea of a carpark right in the middle of Balluta Square was not favourable, and not acceptable not just to us residents, but to all who commented, save one or two. Keep this in mind, council, when you have any new ideas, discuss with the people what they want and need first, then get the idea going.
To Robert Paul Galea... Can you imagine excavating for 9 stories a few metres away from the sea, along very old buildings?? Do you like to ruin such places of interest, where, it seems, modern times have not touched the area?? You should have attended the meeting like I did, and voiced your opinion.

Rita Dimech Portelli

Nov 30th 2009, 16:41

The council should have held a meeting with us residents well before coming out with the proposal of the carpark. They would have saved time and money. From what was said at the meeting it was obvious that idea of a carpark right in the middle of Balluta Square was not favourable, and not acceptable not just to us residents, but to all who commented, save one or two. Keep this in mind, council, when you have any new ideas, discuss with the people what they want and need first, then get the idea going.

p.mifsud

Nov 30th 2009, 16:41

@ Mr. Robert P. Galea.... I suggest you go abroad again...! why do you think the project would have been ideal? do you have any financial interest in this maybe too? and why do you think the council dropped the idea ? Perhaps one was not going to pocket enough ??? GOT IT NOW? BON VOYAGE..

P.Cassar

Nov 30th 2009, 16:35

At least and at last the voice of the people has been heard.

WILL GONZIPN PLEASE TAKE A CUE FROM THIS AND PUT A STOP TO THE CITYGATE AND OPERA HOUSE PROJECT.

Even here the voice of the people SHOULD BE HEARD.

M Vella

Nov 30th 2009, 16:35

When will Malta realise it's 2009 and that we should plan to reduce car usage with all the benefit this brings? Surely more walking/cycling incorporated into our pastizzi diet will go some way to combat our obesity rate...

Robert Paul Galea

Nov 30th 2009, 16:33

Thanks to those who enlightened the public who could not attend meeting. The reasons are detailed and sound justifiable.

Nothing against Joanna Azzopardi but the other explanations were slightly more detailed especially in view of other car parks in the vicinity which are not full.

Thanks

Franco Farrugia

Nov 30th 2009, 16:30

@ GaleaL: Mumble, mumble, grumble, grumble, groan, groan - is there anything right taking place in this country of ours, under Nationalist administration? Is it possible that you find NOTHING worth praising??

E. Azzopardi

Nov 30th 2009, 16:21

Wasn't this obvious? What a waste of time and people's money.

Robert Paul Galea

Nov 30th 2009, 16:20

Not quite sure about the passeggiata......

However The Times should have reported the reasons against the proposal in its article.

Nonetheless I am not in total agreement with the reasons put forward by Joanna Azzopardi. Are these a few of the reasons put forward by the Balluta residents at the meeting? Sorry i could not attend but happened to be abroad.

1. Who said it is not feasible? It is always an asset to have a car park in such a location and does not take anything away from an improved transport system. It actually enhances(if properly managed) the location since it helps cater for certain needs.
2. A risk assessment would have to be carried out. I would not dispose of an idea solely because there is the risk of damage before the proper assessments are carried out. If the risk is high then one might re-consider.
3. This should work hand in hand with item 4 (improved transport system). Both the car park and improved transport result in less pollution.

Can anyone post the reasons put forward by the residents? They seem to be good enough for the council to drop project.

Anthony Pace Gouder

Nov 30th 2009, 16:16

What a SIGH OF RELIEF to all those who protested and helped the SAVE BALLUTA SQUARE (better k/a Taht is-Sigar ) campaign .
The big turnout and the participation ,with very valid arguments , of Residents and sympathisers ,at last at Friday"S MEETING with the Mayor and Counsellers , resulted in a wise and bold decision taken by the ST.JULIANS' LOCAL COUNCIL.
Well done everybody , you have set a trend where the Voice of the People is TRULY HEARD .

J. J. Borg

Nov 30th 2009, 15:58

Yes let us get rid of local councils just because L. Galea does not approve of them. While we're at it Mr. Galea, do you have any other institutions you wish to do away with? The courts maybe? Or parliament? Lol!

Mario Gauci

Nov 30th 2009, 15:55

Let us say that the St Julian's Local Council really thought that this was a good idea.

Now the people have spoken and the council have listened.

This is the only way forward.

Well done everybody.

Josette DeGabriele

Nov 30th 2009, 15:48

From half a world away in Hong Kong, congratulations to all whom could be at the meeting to vote against the proposal. Our prayers have been answered. This really is a fantastic result. Hip hip hooray for people power and for democracy.

J.Cassar Aveta

Nov 30th 2009, 15:48

Prosit to all the Balluta residents for their common support and prosit to our local council for having agreed with us in our decision.

Thank You.

H Caruana

Nov 30th 2009, 15:42

@Robert Paul Galea

I am not Balluta resident but I attended the meeting and the residents raised several points why the building should be dropped, namely, the following:

a) The area presently has a number of parking spaces available and the project will only offer a place for 100 cars whilst the present area can hold 70 cars thus the park spaces gained do not justify the introduction of such a car park
b) The car park will just act as a pole for attracting more traffic towards the area since the flow of traffic will become more congested towards the car park entrance thus causing further emissions in the area
c) Possible damage to the adjacent Balluta Buildings
d) There is a significantly under utilised public car park behind Le Meridien Hotel already which doesn't even have a parking attendant at the moment despite the fact that there are ticket machines. People can go park for free and yet it is empty most of the time
e) This is a project which costs over €2 million which could be easily spent elsewhere
f) Other possible alternatives such as Tiguglio car park

...I'm quite sure other points were mentioned

Alexander Pace Gouder.

Nov 30th 2009, 15:41

@ Robert Paul Galea. The article had to be limited but if you were present for last Friday's Meeting u would have heard 100% reasons. POLUTION, MORE TRAFFIC IN THE AREA and most of all it was pointed out to the Council that the amount of money which was going to be pumped into the project a car park for only 120cars was not feesable. (Our THANKS goes the The Local St.Julians Council The Mayor and all councillers for keeping their promise and did according to the will of Balluta Residents,( We understand that it was a hard step to take but sense has prevailed) To all member and MPs who supported us, of all three political parties PN, PL, Alternativa, Environmental Org. special mention to Din L ART HELWA, & Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar, and special mention and a BIG THANKS to the Hundreds of Balluta Residents who turned up for last Friday's meeting. Also THANKS to the many Pesioners and Families who could not attend & who contacted us and gave us moral Support. THANKS also to the Times and all Media. Alexander Pace Gouder as PRO and on behalf of Balluta Residents Association/Save Balluta Square Group.

Galea. L

Nov 30th 2009, 15:34

p.s. congratulations to the St Julians residents for resisting their local council arrogance.
Local Councils should be done away with.

Galea. L

Nov 30th 2009, 15:33

How about the Marsascala residents and the local council doing the same about the Sant'Antnin plant?
The southern residents of Malta have nothing less than those of other areas.

N.Calleja

Nov 30th 2009, 15:25

Instead of praising the St.Julian's Local Council for unanimously deciding to drop the Balluta car park project, now we are reading comments in favour of the project and also that the Council should resign. Why resign? For being democratic and they adhered to the majority's wishes? In other years we had no type of consultations and the government alone decided what to do. I take the opportunity to praise the Council for its wise and sensible decision.

philip pace

Nov 30th 2009, 15:22

With this decision one can see the true aspects of democracy.

Therefore the St.Julians Local Council idea of turning Ballutta Bay into a car park project has been out witted and out voted.
I suspect that there is more to this as if I was a council member and in a meeting someone comes in with this 'proposal' of such a negative type of project, I would have made my utmost efforts to shoot this project down so that I would be loyal to my voters but if no action like this has happened or has been taken by a SINGLE council member or has been reported to have happened then I have failed in my duty towards my voters. Which means that if no member opposed this project, then the whole council is at fault for bad administration.
If I lived in St.Julians, I would personally go and ask the whole council including it's mayor to resign hand over the keys and would make sure that they leave the Council in a peaceful manner.
I would then call the runners up to take place of the former members and then fresh elections would take place.
Shame on the council!

Joanna Azzopardi

Nov 30th 2009, 15:21

@ Robert Paul Galea
The following is a non-exhaustive list of reasons:
1. The project is not feasible for 100 cars especially having another car park nearby.
2. Having to dig 9 stories beneath the ground may damage the old buildings surrounding the square.
3. The project will not solve the residents' parking problem but attract more cars to the square i.e. increasing pollution.
4. If an improved public transport system is underway, then we can might as well use it.

By any chance do you happen to be one of those visitors for the weekend passeggiata or
a night out in Paceville??????

Mark Anthony portelli

Nov 30th 2009, 15:15

Now the LC has to give us detailed information the money spent on this Proposal.

A. Zahra

Nov 30th 2009, 15:14

Prosti, il-Kunsill ta' San Giljan. A most welcome decision

Donavan Galea

Nov 30th 2009, 15:12

Jista s-Sindku jghidilna issa kemm hareg flus ghal pjanti tal-progett inniffsu? Ghaliex ma ra l-htiega tar-residenti qabel ma fassal u berbaq flus il-poplu fuq dan il-progett?

Huwa evidenti li dan il-Kunsill huwa mmexxi minn Nazzjonalisti.......bla vizjoni ... bla pjanar....... direzzjoni gol-hajt!!!

Ivan Calamatta

Nov 30th 2009, 15:09

Hekk ghandhom jsiru l-affarjiet, bis-sens u mhux kollox bil-maqlub. Qumm poplu fuq tieghek ,dak li hu tieghek trid tiggieled ghalih,ghax xejn mhu ser jibqa shih f'dan il-povru pajjiz.
L-istess qed jigri gewwa Ghawdex,hemmhekk kollox jghaddi, permessi NO PROBLEM>>>>

lzammit

Nov 30th 2009, 15:07

I say well done to the local council for dropping this project. Good sense prevailed.
@Robert Paul Galea: If you were present at the meeting on Friday night you wouldn't have dared to post your comment!!

Brian Farrugia

Nov 30th 2009, 15:05

Fair enough...

now could all the boards/plastic tents

under which food is served be cleared up,
too......

to restore it to its former glory....

Miguel Borg

Nov 30th 2009, 14:53

@ Robert Paul Galea Missek gej il-Public Meeting nhar il-Gimgha li ghaddiet u kont tkun taf Sur Galea ghaliex it-talba taghna giet milqugha mill-Kunsill.

Prosit lir-resident, NGO's ghar-rezistenza taghhom. Prosit ukoll lill-Kunsilliera li wrew li mhux bhal Gvern u jaqbad u jirrombla min fuq ic-cittadini, imma sema' lillna r-residenti u bl-akbar maturita' u responsabilita' kellu l-kuragg jirtira l-proposta u jdawwar id-decizjoni.

Ray de Bono

Nov 30th 2009, 14:51

Common sense prevails, at last!

Sean keyes

Nov 30th 2009, 14:46

Prosit to everyone who stood up and made their voices heard!! I wish more people would stand up and try and make a difference rather than just grumbling about things!! Well done and it just shows things can happen ( or not in this case ) if people make themselves heard, but in the right way!!!

Well done!!

Joe Morana

Nov 30th 2009, 14:36

Good sense prevailed. Well done to Balluta residents.

J Farrugia

Nov 30th 2009, 14:27

I suggest to the St Julian's Local council to resign en bloc since it is not you who are running the show, but the people who elected you. So give them the chance to run for office since it seems to me that they are more effecient than you are. And then .... you know what to do.

R. C Conti

Nov 30th 2009, 14:25

They should have never even dreamed about it in the first place...!!

Claudia Pecorella

Nov 30th 2009, 14:11

Prosit well done Balluta residents!!!!

Robert Paul Galea

Nov 30th 2009, 14:11

Why? The article 'Residents 'expect project to be dropped' in today's paper fails to identify one reason from the Balluta residents which justifies the dropping of the project. can someone from the Balluta residents enlighten us as to why this project should not go ahead?