Spinola Bay project announced

A €1.3 million project for the Spinola Bay square area was announced this morning by Resources Minister George Pullicino.

The project, on 2,400 square metres, will see the pedestrian areas expand on both sides of the square.

The central roundabout will be removed and the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which stands in its centre will be placed at an area near the police station.

Retractable bollards to completely close off the square on special occasions, such as the feast, to make the area fully pedestrian, will also be placed.

Mr Pullicino said there will loading and unloading bays and space for police cars but the other parking spots will be removed.

However, a private car park project near the Church should make up for the removal of these spaces.

The project will include two ground fountains, benches and unobtrusive trees. Although the tables and chairs in the area will be retained, they will be delineated.

A 1.5 metre deep water culvert will be laid to collect all the rain water from the St Julian's area before this is deposited into the sea. This will mean that electricity cables will have to be dug up.

Mr Pullicino said that although it would have been great for the area to have been completely pedestrianised, this was not feasible for the moment.

Work on the project, the first phase of a bigger one for St Julian's, is due to start in April and should be concluded within eight months.