Proposal for a new Sliema waterfront

While the recent upgrading of Tower Road and Qui-Si-Sana is commendable, one should now consider the upgrading of the Sliema waterfront on The Strand side. Before a master plan is developed for this prestigious location, one has to take into consideration the needs of this location, together with its long-term potential.

This is without any doubt a fantastic location with the potential to develop a super yacht hub which would be the envy of other competing marinas in the Mediterranean. For this to materialise a local breakwater would need to be constructed where the depth of the sea is not considerable, rendering the area a safe harbour all year round. The cost for a local breakwater in a depth of only 10 metres should not be exorbitant. The availability of many retail shops and restaurants in the vicinity is ideal to develop a marquee-type waterfront which is an idyllic environment for super yachts’ users.

Those who have been to the famous St Tropez in the south of France can realise that this super yacht hub for the summer season only, offers similar attractions, but has established a name for the rich and famous who visit this old town on a regular basis.

However to compete and offer similar attractions, the Sliema area needs to be upgraded with improved infrastructure and facilities, as better explained in the attached plan. Part of the sea, especially the area opposite St Anne Square needs to be reclaimed and developed into an attractive public garden, wide promenade, children’s play area, a small ferry terminal with proper public conveniences, slipway for water buses, terminus for buses, tourist coaches, mini cabs, taxis, ticketing booths and other uses.

Once the reclamation is complete it will have multi-benefits for other areas in the vicinity as well. These include the need for the church of Jesus of Nazareth to have its own parvis, like all main churches in other towns and villages; the need to widen the pavement opposite the buildings on the seafront, thus having more free pedestrian access; the need to increase car parking facilities threefold; the need to widen the main road with less crossings which are creating bottlenecks in the traffic junctions.

This would accommodate a “weave-in” system and turn around junctions before and after this stretch of the front so as to avoid traffic congestion.

If the upper part of the road leading to the Fortina Hotel is widened, a large two-storey underground car park beneath the road could be constructed. I calculate the whole area could accommodate more than 1,000 car spaces. Wherever possible, we should consider more underground car parks beneath wide roads like we find in central congested European cities like Paris and Monte Carlo.

With a proper master plan, this new magnificent Sliema waterfront could accommodate the existing facilities for harbour cruises, ferries, etc. in a more organised manner, plus a number of berths for super yachts and a small yacht marina towards the higher part, close to the new local breakwater.

A water feature opposite St Anne Square will continue to embellish the whole waterfront.

It is recommended that the investment should be done through a public- private partnership scheme. I feel confident that after my successful endeavour in creating the Valletta waterfront into a magnificent location, with my proposal we can have another magnificent Sliema waterfront that will be one of the most elegant in the Mediterranean and which will be admired by this and future generations.