SRA questions Sliema council's priorities

Joe Tabone-Adami

Jun 19th 2010, 11:28

This problem - like so many others causing extreme nuisance, irritation and anger among Sliema residents - has definitely been put on the back burner. And, to make matters worse, somebody just switched off the gas. I would appeal to one and all, however, to let the Sliema Council doze in heavenly bliss - the outcome of carelessness, ineptitude and incompetence - for the rest of its life. Judging from the results since the present Council took office, it simply appears futile to wake it up to the unpleasant realities Sliema residents have to face on a daily basis. The flesh is weak indeed - but the spirit is completely unwilling!

J Oatmon

Jun 19th 2010, 09:11

The problem of roads is easy to understand but hard to fix.
Roads and car parks cost money to build and maintain, and take away land from the developers - this is why roads are always half as wide as they should be and car parking is minimal.

As long as we have a corrupt MEPA with a cosy relationship between MEPA and the devlopers, we will always get shortchanged on the roads and parking spaces.

Considering the governments woeful record on enforcement of any kind (fireworks, bird shooting, ADt, VAT and so on), I expect these 'planning' disasters to continue - such as Tigne point, where the government 'rolled over' to the developers, instead on insisting on compliance to the original approved plans.

A weak government enforcement regime, leaves the public at the mercy of the unscrupulous developers, and other powewrful groups. We need a government with backbone, not smart sounding excuses for incompetence.

Melvyn Mifsud LLD

Jun 19th 2010, 07:58

Sliema traffic is a hard nut ot crack/management. Should it be tackled in isolation? Is it just the problem of the local council, with their limited funds and resources. Or should it be dealt with at national level. Even bearing in mind that our towns and villages are overlapping. Should they consider of drawing up a study with neighbouring councils - St. Julina's and Gzira, by way of an example. If anything it may save more people's problems, and saving on money.

SRA's preoccupations are justified - pollution, parking problems, blocked streets by never ending cranes, which are a necessary evil.

Perhaps a wider and more comprehensive and holisitc (adjacent towns) approach to the plight, may prove more beneficial.

MBorg

Jun 18th 2010, 22:19

@ Pat Camilleri
Wake up. All of Malta is in the same situation. It is not the fault of the Sliema local council .
There are too many cars in Malta and they definitely do not belong to the Sliema Local Council.

pat camilleri

Jun 18th 2010, 21:43

Quite right SRA. The pollution is appalling, the traffic is unbearable. The numerous cranes are everywhere, and the council looks on. The continuous destruction of this town continues. They have made life a misery for many people, and the council looks on.When are the next council elections?

Joanne Micallef

Jun 18th 2010, 16:42

The whole Sliema /Gzira area is a disaster re traffic really, this problem should have been addressed years ago when the residential and commercial construction boom started in that area, the authorities should have thought for adequate public and residential parking spaces plus proper loading and unloading bays.

Paul Borg

Jun 18th 2010, 16:29

The developers of Tigne' took the Sliema residents for a big long ride with the blessing of the Sliema local council and MEPA. If the Tigne' coast road was open as a dual carriage way with 2 lanes in each direction, as proposed, then there would not have been this congestion. Now you have content with an underground tunnel with one lane each direction . If it is opened in our lifetime.

Jon Vercellono

Jun 18th 2010, 16:24

Isn't it the Sliema residents who voted out the one Green Counselor who was addressing this very issue - I agree completely and wholeheartedly with the previous comment about having the cake and eating it. We'll now without an advocate who was on their side - they are eating it.

Joe Morana

Jun 18th 2010, 16:23

Readers may wish ot learn The 'edited' part of the SRA press release.

" Sliema’s ‘fairy-lights extravaganza’ preferred to the Sliema’s much needed traffic management plan .Date: 18 June 2010"

" In the circumstances, without going into the merits of the alleged financial irregularities within the Sliema Local Council regarding the Sliema ‘fairy lights’ tender, the Sliema Residents Asssociation questions the Sliema Local Council’s priorities to go for the questionable “fairy lights” extravaganza costing hundreds of thousands of Euro , instead of commissioning the much needed, long overdue and less expensive Sliema holistic traffic management plan to address the precarious Sliema traffic problems."

Joe Morana
PRO
The Sliema Residents Association Committee.
www.sra.org.mt

M.Caruana

Jun 18th 2010, 16:12

If you dont want so much traffic and pollution start closing businesses...Sliema...you cant have the cake and eat it.