Business boost for Merchants Street after pedestrianisation
The repaving of Merchants Street and its conversion into a pedestrian zone has boosted business, shop owners told the Prime Minister when he went on a tour this morning.
Dr Gonzi was invited to visit the shops by the Merchants Street Business Association.
Association president Tonio Camilleri said 23 shops had opened in the street in the past two years and several owners had invested to upgrade their outlets.
Mr Camilleri, however, expressed concern over the loss of parking in various parts of Valletta, including St George and Freedom Squares, and suggested that the park-and-ride system should be extended. He also urged the authorities to ensure there was no disruption to access into Valletta when City Gate, and the overlying street, are demolished.
Dr Gonzi said the success achieved in Merchants Street was a pointer of how such projects generated jobs and economic activity. That too, he said, would happen once the City Gate project was complete.
During his tour the prime minister briefly chatted with a number of shop owners, including the PL's candidate for the European Parliament elections, Marlene Mizzi.
He also chatted with football enthusiasts exchanging World Cup stickers, but moved on after one of them said they were there to forget life's problems and the power bills.
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alexia
Apr 23rd 2010, 18:02
how about reviving the long dying Bugibba tourism business?! Bugibba has been left to become the black sheep of the tourism product in Malta with its shabby state, attracting the low budget price sensitive sun and sea third aged operator tourists who endulge in their 2euro kiosk breakfast and 'just looking' shopping, whilst Valletta is blooming with cruiseliner visitors and Sliema/St Julians with its fleet of 5star international hotel brands. With investment being shifted toward other parts of the island for the past two decades, Bugibba is quickly destined to become a no-go area in every tourist guide book and it is surely not helping in promoting Malta as a destination of high product positioning and is not aiding in attracting high budget history and culture quality tourists. When will Bugibba be given priority in the national tourism plan? Bugibba business people wonder and weep.
Paul Borg
Apr 23rd 2010, 15:27
To start with, Merchant street was always a pedestrian area due to the presence of the Monti. the pedestrianised remainder , ie: from St John's street to South street, brought hardship on many shop owners that are not service or catering oriented. While one must commend the excellent work carried out, it is not always the case that total pedestrianisation increases the volume of all businesses, one good example is South street, which has seen a drop in business and also in shops, this was a half baked initiative and the pedestrianisation should have been all the way to the Museum of fine arts, thus giving the Museum a well deserved accent and a focused venue for visitors to go to.
joanna bugeja
Apr 23rd 2010, 13:50
has anyone thought about people working in the area of lower valletta including st paul street, merchant street etc??????????????? it is already a nightmare trying to find a parking space after 7.30am. furthermore this area is not even served with the park and ride van during the hours when it is most needed ie before 9am and at 5pm when office hours are over.
Mike Magri
Apr 23rd 2010, 12:11
Mr. `Smiley` again, with his FORCEFUL `smiles` inventing occasions in trying to deviate the peoples` attentions from the BLOW he got with the most SHAMEFUL and DISGUSTING Auditor`s EneMalta`s Report.. And the SAVAGE Water and Electricity Bills... And the EVER INCREASING Cost of Living... AND thus the EVER DECREASING Take Home Pay... ETC... ETC... ETC...
That`s what counts for us Mr. `Smiley`, u mela your stupid `POLITICAL THEATRICAL ACTS`...!!!!!!
HALLINA PLEASE TRIDX........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
EDWIN DE MARCO
Apr 23rd 2010, 10:21
Most probably the Monti hawkers do not agree with this. Have they been asked their opinion regardinbg Merchants' Street?
Victor Dimech
Apr 23rd 2010, 10:03
Hello there anybody knows what is going on in Valletta this morning a good part of whatr was supposed to be a pedestrian area is being painted yellow numbered squares.Republic stree near the palace ev en the pavement has been painted yellow.I dont think that all that no parking space is being reserved for parlament when not even half of members attend.And what about us residents where are we going to park.Is that what we voted for?Come on sur sindku wake up this is not a public toilet case.
Anthony Mizzi
Apr 22nd 2010, 19:00
Maybe there are plans to do some repaving at the ARMS Offices and the Prime Minister will honour those present there.
The Prime Minister and his entourage would certainly get a feel of what Cikku Poplu is going through and realise that we have more on our minds than exchanging World Cup stickers.
Joseph Caruana
Apr 22nd 2010, 15:23
The world cup sticker collection will cost at least €75 to complete the whole album. The person who passed the comment has found a very interesting way to forget the increased financial burden... spend more on stupid hobbies.
Joseph Borg
Apr 22nd 2010, 16:39
Mela kollox idejjaqkhom jew! jekk kacca iddejaqkhom, jekk nar idejaaqkhom issa anqas album stickers ma tista taghqqad bil kwiet!!! ghax idejqek ukoll.
Dan igemmaw darba kull 4 snin ta! halliehom jghaddu naqra zmien bil kwiet! kollox tridu tibku!
Leonard Brincat
Apr 23rd 2010, 16:49
Can you please tell us what are your interesting hobbies .maybe you help us change ours Mr. Caruana
anthony borg
Apr 22nd 2010, 14:47
"....but moved on after one of them said they were there to forget life's problems and the power bills." Hey "Times", where's this bit on the video? It took some guts to tell it to the PM "as it is"!
Humour and "Spirtu Pront" are never lacking on the streets :-)
Robert Zammit
Apr 22nd 2010, 14:40
Happy face, Shake hands and pain people ...