New traffic arrangements for Valletta were this morning criticised by Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar which said it failed to understand how the council could propose a plan that favoured motorists and had a potential negative health impact on Valletta's residents and the city’s architectural heritage.

In a statement this morning, it said that contrary to what was stated, turning right from St Mark's Street meant that cars would go steeply uphill.

This was the original traffic plan proposed by Transport Malta some years ago. FAA had objected as such a sudden steep hill, with no possibility of building up momentum, would cause drivers to rev their vehicles forcefully and expel significant amounts of vehicle exhaust fumes into the surrounding residential area.

Its submissions were accepted and the alternative route was implemented. Although longer, this option split the gradient into more manageable chunks and was environmentally much more acceptable.