Danger to children at Marsaxlokk

It has been emphasised and re-emphasised by several parents to the Marsaxlokk local council that St Francis Street, on which lie the two main gates of Ġużeppina Deguara Primary School, needs to be made safe when children are entering and exiting school. Currently only one gate is safe while the larger and more accessible one is left open to danger from traffic.

There have been several reports of near misses when children could have been involved...- Carol Fenech, Marsaxlokk

Unfortunately, after the local council promised black on white to make the larger gate further up the same street inaccessible to cars, it has made a U-turn and is now stating that unless St Batholomey Street further up is not opened, the gate will remain unsafe and it will not take the necessary action. It argues that closing St Francis Street completely causes great inconvenience and traffic for residents wanting to get out of Marsaxlokk.

It is the general opinion that closing the street for a short while in the morning and in the afternoon would not generate such a big traffic problem. I question the basic value of the decision given that children’s safety normally comes first and foremost without being questioned.

The council is also using the issue of safety as leverage to open St Bartholomey Street.

While it would be positive for St Batholomey Street to be opened, this is not an ethical approach. This issue has been greatly preoccupying parents who want their children safe from danger. It is illogical and irresponsible for the council to use schoolchildren’s safety as leverage to open another road.

There have been several reports of near misses when children could have been involved in a car accident while crossing the road to school. This is unacceptable! The local council is responsible for complete inaction in this regard and for not keeping a promise written black on white. Children come first and this is a basic value.

Moreover, policemen are more often than not absent, especially when children finish school. Bollards are sometimes not put in their place. Do we need to wait for an accident to happen before taking action? In Attard, the main road is closed only after an accident took place involving children at school. Is not this enough of an example of what the priorities of the Marsaxlokk council should be?

Parents like myself wait with anticipation for the necesary action to be taken.