Paceville must be better managed

The concept of town centre management was first broached at a workshop on the subject almost two years ago. It was organised by the product development directorate of the Malta Tourism Authority and focused on the intention to run pilot projects in town centre management in the three main tourism areas of Valletta, Paceville and Marsalforn.

Town centre management is an administrative and organisational tool that has been increasingly adopted throughout Europe and elsewhere in the last 20 years.

In broad terms, its objective is to bring together, under one administrative head, all the stakeholders concerned – national and local authorities, the commercial community, residents, shoppers, tourists and others – with a view to investing resources to manage towns in a holistic manner to achieve improved localities for all. The key is to encourage stakeholders in their localities to have a shared vision for the future and to work towards it together under the town centre manager.

Almost 24 months down the line, it would appear that Paceville may be on the verge of implementing the first pilot scheme in town centre management. At a meeting held in Paceville, the chairman of the Parliamentary Social Affairs Committee, which has been looking at ways of improving the situation in the Paceville entertainment hub where public disorder had been a matter for concern, noted that the locality needs to be managed better, taking into consideration the contrasting interests of residents, businesses, consumers and all stakeholders.

The MTA’s representative at the meeting outlined plans for the locality for the next three years. He described the way Paceville’s working and resident population was set to grow considerably and what was in the pipeline in terms of the embellishment of the area including the extension of pedestrian areas.

He said the aim was to transform Paceville from “a night-time destination to a 24-hour place of activities”. He envisaged the appointment of a town centre manager to administer the area under some form of public-private partnership.

The heart of Paceville is only about a quarter of a mile square. It is smaller than Soho in London but possibly packs as many entertainment, restaurant, shopping and residential facilities as that other mecca of fun. In the summer and at the weekends, the population expands substantially and becomes a pulsating hub of youthful activity and occasional misbehaviour. The pressure on residents in the area is unconscionable. Traffic management there is a major problem and the MTA is examining the possibility of extending the hours when the area is closed to traffic.

There can be little doubt that a coordinated and well-organised management plan for Paceville is long overdue. The fact that the MTA, not the St Julians local council, is taking the lead on this issue is indicative perhaps of the lack of leadership – and resources – devoted to this area in the past.

Over the years, Paceville continued to grow in an uncontrolled manner. The need to bring some order and structure to how it is managed is essential.

The priorities for efficient town centre management here will be better policing – to which the Police Commissioner must apply more manpower – radically better traffic management and parking, and higher standards of cleanliness and presentation.

A dynamic town centre manager, who has the trust and support of both the local council and the MTA and other stakeholders, will be vital.