When a long time ago I called the St Julians local council to report a missing bus stop bench, little did I think that today, close to two years later, this has still not been replaced. The bench in question is at the bus stop in St George’s Road, next to the well-maintained garden which was rightly applauded by Frank Salt.

This five-seater bench is probably mass produced and cheap and though not sufficient to satisfy the many users, helped a good number of senior citizens, Maltese or foreign, to rest as they waited for a bus which could take anything between 20 and 30 minutes to arrive.

I wrote a number of letters to the council, attended a meeting and asked for help from the authorities. I never received an acknowledgement, let alone an indication of what is planned. This is a very busy bus stop where one can see as many as 50 commuters waiting in the sun or rain, always standing.

The iron benches outside the bus stop are of some help and are quickly taken up by residents and commuters alike. In view of my useless efforts to have this elusive bench replaced, I informed the council that I shall not contact them either verbally or in writing on any matter but will request the administrative council to intervene.

Unfortunately, this bench still remains the responsibility of the local council.

I have always been and will remain a supporter of local councils but not this one.