Railings permit to inject new life to Merchants Street
The planning authority approved an application that will eventually allow street furniture to be placed in the centre of parts of Merchant Street, Valletta. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier
Shoppers in Valletta may soon be able to sip a coffee or have lunch on Merchants’ Street after the planning authority approved an application to install railings that will fence off street furniture.
Tables and chairs will be closed off by the railings that will be located in the centre of the street so shoppers can pass through passageways on either side.
Malta Environment and Planning Authority board members on Thursday approved the installation of the railings, to be distributed into six sections, or modules, along the stretch of road between the junction with Melita and Theatre streets.
The colour of the railings, that cannot display adverts, will blend in with the road. The railings will remain but can be removed if necessary.
The permit does not give the automatic go-ahead for laying down street furniture such as tables, chairs and umbrellas. These were listed as reserved matters and will be subject a separate board approval.
The uncertainty of what the final product would look like led five Mepa board members to vote against the railings and eight voted in favour.
The permit was granted following an application by the government through the Rehabilitation Project Office. The Land Department will now issue a call for tenders for the operation of the six modules. St John’s Cathedral initially objected to the project out of concern that the railed-off areas would block the entrance to its museum. However, the case officer said in his report this would not be the case. He also pointed out the Civil Protection Department carried out tests and established that the railed areas would not block off any emergency vehicles that might have to rush through the road.
Meanwhile, the Malta Hotel and Restaurants Association said on Wednesday it was working to ensure no bank guarantees would be required in the case of those who wanted to install outdoor furniture and had a clean track record.
The Malta Tourism Authority last week agreed to cut the bank guarantee from €250 to €50 per square metre. This followed negotiations between the MHRA, the Malta Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprise – GRTU and the MTA after it was felt the rates were too high.
The MHRA restaurants’ committee welcomed the reduction but insisted it would work to ensure the issue of pavement and road encroachment be tackled consistently for the benefit of all stakeholders.
It had talks with the government about guidelines on pavement and beach encroachments so that operators will have a clear set of rules, ensuring the safety of patrons while allowing adequate passageway for pedestrians.
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Pauline Busuttil
Apr 11th 2011, 17:42
Jien nahseb li id-decizjoni diga ttiehdet u ghalxejn noqghodu nargumentaw. Tal-hwienet go din it-triq l'ewwel raw kif ser inehhu l-monti u fl'ahhar irnexxielhom. Saret it-triq u indunaw li minghajr il-monti, il business mar lura. Issa ghax drajna l-wisq' tat-triq u veru giet sabiha, xi uhud (li ghandhom xi interess) irridu johorgu s-siggijiet u l'imwejjed. Jien niskanta u veru nixtieq naf minn hu dan li qed johrog b'dawn l'idejjat. Nafu li b'hekk it-triq ser issir ingombranti, tithammeg ta' spiss, jitnaqqas il-moviment tan-nies etc. Tigi sabiha it-triq jekk naghmel xi pots bil fjuri fuq kull gemb biex inhallu n-nofs spazzjus ghan-nies u ghat-trakkijiet li jhottu lill tal-hwienet. Tkomplux teqirdu l-Belt.
Daniela Klein
Apr 11th 2011, 17:05
There would need to be large umbrellas in the summer to provide adequate shade from the hot sun. The street is going to be very crammed indeed! Personally, I would not even like to sit and eat a meal or drink a coffee in the middle of Merchants Street!
j brincat
Apr 11th 2011, 13:09
Is this a case of 'some animals are more equal than others?'
Who knows how many more other businessmen throughout the island wish to have the same treatment medted to them. Are the Merchant Street coffee vendors unique or is there more than meets the eye?
But by now we have become used to MEPA mysterious way of granting permits.
(JB)
J Galea
Apr 11th 2011, 12:04
What is it about Malta that we just cannot leave things alone? Just leave this street as it is wide and beautiful with only a little junk on the side of the road and nice paving work all the way up from the Palace (where it has already been dug up) to Castille. If you want to regenerate another part of Valletta there are plenty of places where you can create street attractions.
Neil Briscoe White
Apr 11th 2011, 11:32
So, the Merchant Street railings won't carry advertising, we are assured. But the umbrellas will still say Cisk or Pepsi! Having just laid new patterned paving, we will now start to dig them up to anchor railings for yet more cafes' spaces which will then cover the patterns and ruin the symmetry of the original design concept, whilst restricting the open spaces that at least part of Valletta needs for people, both Maltese and tourist alike to relax and enjoy the special atmosphere of Valletta. There are plenty of good cafes already in Valletta. I understand that Valletta needs to be a living commercial centre as well as a tourist museum and business has died because of Sliema's shopping centre, but if you want Valletta to thrive again then people don't need more cafes, then shoppers don't need yet more cafe seats, they need decent CAR PARKING that doesn't take 45 minutes of driving around looking for spaces that aren't warden traps for the unwary. And trying to force us onto the buses at Euro 1.80 by nudging up the cost of car fuel every single week won't work either!
O Mallia
Apr 10th 2011, 11:37
Hallu kollox kif inhu. Jekk ir-restoranti jridu l-kummerc jaghmluh fil-proprjeta' priovata taghhom u mhux fuq ilil-proprjeta' pubblika li hija ta' kulhadd. Ghalfejn ghandi noqghod nghaddi minn qalb l-imwejjed u siggijiet fi triq pubblika beix tar-restoranti jaghmlu l-qligh taghhom minn fuq proprjeta' li fuq kollox jiena u kulhadd ghandu parti minnha u m'hijiex tar-restoranti?
R.E. Saliba
Apr 10th 2011, 10:42
There goes the shade... from now one you walk in the middle of the road under the baking sun.
Mark Vella
Apr 11th 2011, 09:11
"Tables and chairs will be closed off by the railings that will be located in the centre of the street so shoppers can pass through passageways on either side." You should read a little before commenting. This is the second sentence of the article by the way.
R.E. Saliba
Apr 11th 2011, 19:15
@Mark Vella
I stand corrected, thanks Mark! It will be fun navigating the rushing waiters with trays full of food but at least we'll do it in the shade.
DOMINIC CAMILLERI
Apr 10th 2011, 07:05
JUST A FEW MONTHS BACK THEY HAD PUT UP PLANT POTS TO SEE THE EFECAT , ONE WAS THAT EARLY MORRNING DELIVER TRUCKS COULD NOT PASS TOUGHT . AND GOT TOULD TO MOVE OUR TRUCK FURDER DOWN & CARRY THE STUFF TO THE KICTHEN .THE SHOP IN THE PHOTO OPENS AT 9.00 FOR DELIVERS ,WHEN YOU SHOULD BE OUT OF VALLETTA BY THEN BUT WE ALL WAYS HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE STUFF TO OPEN ,WITH POLICE & WARDENS ON THE GO JUST SLAPING FINES. I THINK WE SHOULD FIX A POINT SO THE SHOP OWNERS CAN COME AND COLLACT THERE GOODS FROM OUT SIDE VALLETTA , SAY THE PARK AND RIDE VALLETTA HAS BECOME A NIGHT MEAR FOR OUR WORK TO DELIVER THE GOODS TO EVERY SHOP AS WELL GOES , FOR THE MAIN MARKETT [IS-SUQ TAL BELT ] AND ONLY ONE LOADING ZONE,WITHSO MANY VANS & TRUCKS
A scerri
Apr 10th 2011, 05:59
Instead of railings how about using some pretty stone flower pots as markings. l These can then be constantly looked after by the contractor who makes sure that some of our center strips are always in bloom. These would definitely brighten up Merchants Street. However, I would make sure that restaurant owners have power washers to wash the pavement daily as food would dirty and stain the pavement and make the street shabby once again.
To make the area more attractive how about inviting village bands to play in the streets. The government or local council could organize some kind of competition and if bands take it in turn I am sure their presence would liven up Valletta both for locals and foreigners.
Joe Grech
Apr 10th 2011, 00:04
This insensitive administration will now ruin Valletta in much the same way as it has ruined Bugibba and Qawra. There bars, restaurants, no matter how small and badly positioned have been given a slice of public land to put their street furniture on. The result is that in quite a number of places the situation causes real problems for traffic - and safety.
We in Malta think up a good idea and think that such idea can be used across the board. Which is wrong. The same situation will also happen in Merchants' street I believe.
Valletta may end up looking ugly a result. But the bar and restaurant owners will be happy....and the government will earn a few votes come election day!
So that's why the big P.N. boss of bosses wanted to kick the Valletta Monti sellers to far away Park and Ride!
G Magri
Apr 9th 2011, 23:00
No please leave Merchants street free and wide as it is. We don't have many wide streets, why annihilate the few that we have got? It will make this street feel claustrophobic with just passageways on the sides to pass.
M. Vella
Apr 11th 2011, 01:40
Exactly. Now one will have to meander round tables and chairs instead of enjoying the luxury of a wide and un-obstructed way path. Not only, but those who cannot stand the heat, will now be obliged to walk in the sun instead of in the shade on the side .... Merchants Street as it is now is great. It took a long while for us to enjoy it this way but please don't destroy the good obtained so far.
MONICA MUSCAT
Apr 9th 2011, 20:10
At long last! I have been dreaming of this project to come to fruition for quite some time. I hope I will pass away before I see our already beautify Merchants Street, turned into an up-to-date tourist and residents relaxing and enjoyable area. As for the many advers remarks which have turned up, may I answer a few? I did not read anywhere that railings would be in metal or steal.
I would favour wood, of course, weather resistant wood used for our Balconies. As for space. Of course there is space, enough to bring us in line with many beautifully decorated street furniture in many New and Old Cities. As for the furniture obstructing the beauty of the Street's architectural beauty, I am sure that everything would be low-lying and the balconies, facades, etc., of the buildings will be completely free to be enjoyed by residents, visitors and tourists alike. Good for you Tourism Ministry! Keep it up .... and hurry up please. And as we are at it, please do something about the abondened buildings and derelict facades in the central-most part of this particular street. Anything ugly will look worse with this new project.
Robert Spiteri
Apr 9th 2011, 18:48
All those out there complaining and implying that there is any corruption involved are just a bunch of loosers. Businesses in Valletta are strugling and anything that can help should be supported. If only you guys knew the cost of rent of esteblishments in Valletta, you wouldn't comment in that way. Just give it a chance, it will probably be great, everyone likes dining outside in Malta and Merchant street is the widest street in Valletta so its ideal. Ejja nigbdu habel wieher u toqodux tghiru fil vojt ghax emnuni m'hemmx ghalxiex tghir.
yaz tabone
Apr 10th 2011, 10:29
i completely agree.. my dad has a shop in valletta. he has had it for 20years, we have seen Valletta go from one of the busiest places to a cemetry - there is more life in a cemetry! if this would get more people to visit Valletta, then i say GO AHEAD!
Pauline Busuttil
Apr 9th 2011, 18:37
Strada Merkanti ghandha tibqa kif inhi, wisa u minghajr imwejjed u siggijiet. Qed tirrovinaw il Belt.
Possibbli li ghadkom ma indunajtux kemm naqsu nies mill belt, tahsbu into li billi taghmlu xi imwejjed u siggijiet go Strada Merkanti, il Belt ser tqum........
In-nies naqsu hafna mill belt u mhux filghaxija biss imma issa anki matul in-nofs ta nhar ta' filghodu.
Min mindu certi dipartimenti tal-gvern nizluhom l'Evans Bldgs., in-nies naqsu jiccirkolaw gol toroq tal Belt. Staqsu lill tal hwienet u malajr jghidulek li qed jahsbuha jekk johorgux l-business taghhom minn gol belt.
Biex il belt tqum, irridu jergaw idahhlu d-dipartimenti li nehhew minn go fiha; jirrangaw id-djar li hawn abbandunati u jdahhlu n-nies go fijhom; jaghmlu sistema ta' parking ghalina l-Beltin kif jixirqilna u jorganizaw iktar u ferm iktar spettakli got-toroq taghha.
Pero' biex taghmel dan irrid ikollok il-kuragg u ma toqodx tibza mill voti li tista titlef.........
Ryan Aquilina
Apr 9th 2011, 18:36
Did anyone have any doubts about these permits? It was only a matter of time. I guess the monti hawkers were right after all when they stated that the authorities will be removing them in order to give these permits to the restaurants.
Albert Zammit
Apr 9th 2011, 18:23
Whenever there is pavement widening there is always a follow up to put commercial furniture. So why widen the passageway in the first place?
Gzira, Bugibba, Sliema, St. Julians etc. they are everywhere!
I do not want to hear the govt say that so and so is paying for it, (perhaps a few thousand euros yearly). With all the monies that pour in, perhaps the govt might employ 2 to 3 more people!
Emmanuel Attard
Apr 9th 2011, 15:59
Its just a street not a square. Loads of people pass through that street so there is no way in a street like that to have enough space for tables and chairs and 2 passageways unless they are done like sliema where you can't even have a pushchair or someone on a wheelchair that can go through.
C Cassar
Apr 9th 2011, 18:06
Yes there is enough space. Ever been to Germany? Most cities ther have pedestrianised zones with streets of similar size. They have demarked zones in the centre for cafes/restaurant tables/chairs. I can't believe so many Maltese haven't travelled beyond Sicily!
p.piscitelli
Apr 9th 2011, 14:51
about time somthing is done in valletta.once the shops are closed it'slike walking through a cemetry.give some life to our lovley city.
victor pulis
Apr 9th 2011, 13:57
So now we know the decision to remove the open air market to the lower part of the street. Someone once said "Xejn ma jigri b'kumbinazzjoni" This is a case in point.
Valletta's streets were not meant to be obstructed by chairs, tables or plants. Leave something in our capital city to enjoy. Stop the uglification of our capital city. Valletta is not Paris. When tourists come to Malta they expect to see Malta.
S. Suda
Apr 9th 2011, 13:17
The heart and soul of any city centre is the people that live and use it everyday. The most beautiful piazzas and streets in old city centres all over Europe have such outdoor cafe seating areas and they bring life to these piazza and streets. I do not see a problem here... only advantages. I am sure the authorities will do a good job of it like they did with the rest of what has till now been completed in Valletta...
MNCassar
Apr 9th 2011, 13:02
No NO NO we are not second to nothing leave our street free to Hell with this idea our Streets are narrow enough as they are.
J. Borg
Apr 9th 2011, 12:59
Whilst agree with the idea...wy should these railings be left permathey should be taken off and stored in the restaurant at nigt. Also, why should these be made of metal....why doesn't MEPA state that these should be wooden railings, aso as to be more environmently friendly instead of having metal objects stuck in the middle of merchants steet!!!!!
F. Agius
Apr 9th 2011, 12:57
Hallu kollox bla mittiefes u tohonqux l-ambjent bil-barrikati u ostakoli ohra ghax tifgaw u tharbtu l-modija
L.Muscat
Apr 9th 2011, 12:38
I would rather see more plants than tables and chairs. Anyway how wide will the passageways be, because the street is not that wide to have tables and chairs in the middle.
S.N. Perry
Apr 9th 2011, 11:39
Yet another narrow vision by our supposed planners (?), evidently conceding to commercial pressures.
In other words, loss of territory to the general public, creation of a public walkway within the supposed pedestrian area of Merchants. Is this really a pedestrianisation project? To me this is real case of one step forward and two step backwards.......
To whoever is in charge, please rethink ..... this is surely not the wisest of decisions. You know well the Maltese mentality..... a temporary permit is an ETERNAL permit and more and more similar requests are bound to come. Surely, the general public was not pressing for such encroachment permissions.
a.sciberras
Apr 9th 2011, 15:21
Mr Perry, its not a narrow vision by our planners but a wide vision by our Austin.
S. Pace
Apr 11th 2011, 10:29
@ a. sciberras
Quote: "Mr Perry, its not a narrow vision by our planners but a wide vision by our Austin". Unquote.
1. A wide vision indeed by our Austin?
2. A wide vision by having Merchants Street narrowed once again with unwanted obstacles?
3. A wide vision by ignoring years of hard work to convince the Monti hawkers to move to an alternative area and thus giving it back some dignity and open space to this important street in the heart of the Capital City?
Gill Snook
Apr 9th 2011, 11:15
Sights like this are in many european cities. As long as it is tastefully done with planting, it could enhance the street. Please try to keep an open mind.
Mario Farrugia
Apr 9th 2011, 11:13
Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna was one of the very first to applaud the pedestrianization of Merchants' Street in Valletta. This time we want to be amongst the first to condemn this decision which is utterly wrong. The placing of tables and chairs outsidein this beautiful street is laudiable but their enclosure behind railings is wrong. This move will alter the overall aesthetics of this noble street and will only contribute towards the uglification of our capital city. FWA strongly recommends a re-think by whoever is involved.
CEllul
Apr 9th 2011, 10:51
Din tal mwejjed fit toroq ma nifhimiex. Ghandna postijiet fejn n nies spiccaw jimxu fi triq ghax l bankini mimlijin imwejjed u waiters jahbtu man nies. Jekk restaurant irid hafna mwejjed ihallas ghar restaurant ikbar u mhux jiehu l art ta kulhadd.
Paul Xuereb
Apr 9th 2011, 09:31
Here we go again! The paving of Triq il-Merkanti and its conversion into a pedestrian zone was one of the wisest decisions of recent years regarding the capital. And now, here we go, all ready to ruin this handsome street by creating islands of railings to accommodate cafes and restaurants. This is nothing but shocking, and if the Valletta Civic Council is behind it, it deserves my deepest disdain.
M. Zammit
Apr 9th 2011, 11:11
Ahh how nice to walk down Merchant's Street with waiters crossing your path with loaded trays.
How hygenic for clients to eat food that is travelling the distance from the kitchen to the table in the middle of Merchant's Street which coming into contact with whatever is in the air between, probably germs from people who have to stop to allow the waiters to cross their paths!!! Is this allowed under the Public Health law? If tables and chairs are going to be allowed at least make sure they are only allowed on the side of the shop whilst pedestrians walk away from the tables and chairs!!!
This is also stressful on waiters so unions please note!!!
Jeremy Lanfranco
Apr 9th 2011, 17:13
@M. Zammit lol...they probably will install traffic lights for the waiters, so that they know when its time to cross!!!
J Spiteri
Apr 9th 2011, 09:24
It would be very interesting to know who are the owners or who are those who have shares in the cafe's and restaurants in Merchants street and when they became owners or shareholders. Might reveal a few surprises to the public and reveal why such works were undertaken in this part of Merchants Street while the rest were left in a pitiful state.
M. Zammit
Apr 9th 2011, 11:00
Very eary to find out since the transfer of ownership of the shops is of public record. When things move it's because someone important is involved surely!!!
victor pulis
Apr 9th 2011, 09:10
Presumably the paving will be drilled into or damaged in some way in order to install the railings. A custom that we have gotten used to by now. it happens almost every time a road is tarmacked, it happened recently in Marsaxlokk where the new paving near the church was dug up.
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