Tuesday, 1st December 2009

Car park proposal collapses under weight of objections

Claudia Calleja

Balluta residents popped the champagne yesterday after hearing that the proposal to build a car park beneath their treasured square will be scrapped.

The St Julians local council dropped the controversial project after Friday's public consultation meeting made it clear all the residents opposed the nine-storey underground development.

After Friday's meeting, attended by more than 350 residents, local councillors gathered for an urgent meeting where they unanimously agreed the project should not go ahead, St Julians mayor Peter Bonello said in a statement.

Alexander Pace Gouder, from the Balluta Residents' Association, said residents welcomed the news and were celebrating with champagne.

"We're so glad and thankful to the mayor and councillors for listening to our views... We, as residents, do not feel we won against anyone. Everybody won in this case. We saved an open area for everyone to enjoy," Mr Pace Gouder said in an excited tone.

The Balluta area was one of three St Julians sites earmarked in the Malta Environment and Planning Authority's local plan for the construction of car parks. The other two sites are Wesgħet George Portanier and Mikiel Anġ Borg Street.

When the mayor unveiled the car park proposal last week he explained that the council had approved it because it was the most "doable" of the sites. Now the project was discarded, he said, the council would be studying other options.

"We will keep doing our best to try to solve the parking problem," he said when contacted.

Previous article • Swine flu jabs due next month
Next article • Court throws out Magic Kiosk case

Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Wednesday, February 10, 2010. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

C. Farrugia (on 2/12/09)

I am NOT a Balluta resident but I welcome the news as much as them!!

We SHOULD be creating more green space for PEOPLE not cars. Everywhere....

In my dreams ..I see a perfect running transport system and private cars used for leisure. ....but as I said, it is, and most probably will remain: IN MY DREAMS! :)

Rosalie Freestone-Bayes (on 1/12/09)

Well said Mr.Soames! Well done goes to the hundreds of people who stood up to be counted,not to the St.Julian's Council --who started this pandemonium in the first place.!!!They HAD to bow down because the people had spoken.This is not a fight instigated against them but a victory for our environment and for our people's benefit and well being.It pays to see sense after all.Let us keep enjoying the beloved square.

S Beck Baker (on 1/12/09)

At last common sense prevailed and the locals won the battle! Power to the people!

Now what about the other areas they are considering as a carpark?
Have those locals concerned seen the proposed plans?

I agree with Eric Soames had to say!

Alexander Pace Gouder (on 1/12/09)

We said it yesterday but will say it again. Thanks to The Mayor and all Councilliers of St.Julians Local Council for accepting the will of yes 100% United Balluta Residents.Thanks to all who supported us so that this saga has ended on such a POSITIVE NOTE. Special Thanks firstly to all Balluta Residents, then The Times & The Sunday Times and all other media and means of communication who followed this subject. Din L-Art Helwa and Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar. MP's from both sides of the house special mention Mr.Everest Bartolo and Mr.Robert Arrigo. European Parlarment Observer Mr.Joseph Cuschieri. Alternativa Democratica. Ministry For Resources and Rural Affairs who acknowledged our petition sent to the Hon.Prime Minister, The Hon.Chris Said and Hon.Dr.George Pullicino regarding the trees in the square. Thanks to the hundreds of other Maltese & Gozitian Citizens from all over the islands who followed proceedings and supported us. If we left someone out THANKS TO YOU ALL> Alexander Pace Gouder PRO and on behalf of Balluta Residence Association/Save Balluta Square Group.

Ken Griffiths (on 1/12/09)

Well done the residents and all who complained about the Balluta Square proposal to turn it into a car park, it was astupid idea from the start spoiling an area that has been treasured by it's residents for decades. Well done my Wife and I are so pleased that the residents of Balluta have won the day.

G Caruana Dingli (on 1/12/09)

What happened to the MEPA application to remove the toilets and build a bus terminus?

Joanne Micallef (on 1/12/09)

So glad to hear that this ridiculous idea has been scrapped, well done to the residents who have united their efforts to save the Balluta square.

Galea L (on 1/12/09)

Margaret Richards
How about telling Gonzi to apply that reasoning to the Sant'Antnin plant in Marsascala and remove it?

Eric Soames (on 1/12/09)

Good news and congratulations to the Residents Association and all who spoke out against this ridiculous idea but, please, enough with the back slapping of the mayor and council. These were the ones who came up with this plan/scheme in the first place. Power to the people!

Margaret Richards (on 1/12/09)

Thank God for small mercies. We need even more lovely places like the Balluta square and St. Anne Square. At least we can have some open air spaces without hideous grey highrise buildings or parking spaces. Actually parking spaces should be available underground like many places abroad. That way there will be more leeway for a bit of greenery and relaxing places. Also well done goes to the local council of st. julians.

a attard (on 1/12/09)

Well done to the council on their decision and all those involved to resist the proposed car park. The way things stand the Sliema / St. Julians area should be donated funds to develop more green recreational parks. Children living in apartments and very often congested surroundings such as found in Sliema / St. Julians, deserve to have an open green space and breathe some fresh air at walking distance from home. Balluta Valley bed (with the little remaining country side is blessed with mature carob trees) is ideal for such a respite. More indegeounos trees such as Populous Alba (Lug) Ash (Frank) and Mediterranean Oak (Ballut) will thrive in the valley bed in a perfect environemnt. Enough storm water can be collected as it serves as a natural water catchment area. A lawn (meadow) can be kept green even through out summer for children to play on in some real fresh air away from close by traffic that the area is well known for. Wied ghomor should also be earmarked for a similar respite. Let people arrive to enjoy the area with electric cars from parking lots just off the main road arteries such a Luxol grounds.

Car park proposal collapses under weight of objections

Comments

Poll

Fun Stuff

	14 °C
Mostly Cloudy Feels like: 11.6°C UV Index: 2