An embellishment project in Spinola that was meant to be finished this month is “still being assessed” by the planning authority.
In December of last year, Resources Minister George Pullicino unveiled plans that would see much larger pedestrian areas in Spinola, describing it as “phase one” of the Government’s rejuvenation of St Julian’s.
He said works were expected to begin in April and take about eight months, meaning that they should have been concluded by this month.
However, works have not even started because the plans have yet to be approved by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.
The €1.3 million project, which was intended to cover an area of 2,400 square metres, would have seen the removal of the existing Sacred Heart roundabout, its statue moving close to the police station.
An antique horse trough, lying derelict behind the bus stop, would have been restored and turned into a water feature and two ground fountains, several wooden benches and unobtrusive trees would have embellished the pedestrian zones.
As part of the Government’s drive to remove cars from open spaces and give them back to pedestrians, retractable bollards were to be installed, allowing the local council to pedestrianise the entire square on special occasions.
The square is designed by architect Robert Fenech, who was also responsible for the Bisazza Street pedestrian project.
Although the project would remove many parking spaces, Mr Pullicino had said this would be compensated by a 400-space underground car park to be built adjacent to the St Julian’s parish church by a private company. The plans for the car park were detailed in last week’s edition of The Sunday Times by architect Ray DeMicoli who is spearheading the consortium Equinox Ventures Ltd.
The project, which is also still being assessed by Mepa, will incorporate a supermarket, office and retail spaces as well as 22 residential units.
Mr DeMicoli has promised to retain the green character of the site through the use of terraces and rising to only one storey above the present rock level.