The newly-installed benches in the Buġibba/Qawra promenade are of a higher quality than the older ones because they are much more comfortable.

However, the people making use of this promenade in summer as part of their relaxation and exercise are complaining about the reduction in the seating capacity.

Most of these people, after a stroll along the promenade, generally sit on one of these benches to rest and relax among a wide circle of friends or relatives in the cool summer breeze. But, alas, many of them will not be able to do so because in the upper part of this promenade, leading to the National Aquarium, the seating capacity has been reduced by more than half.

Do the St Paul’s Bay council members expect these people to sit on the pavement?

Complaints have also been expressed about the new position of these benches as most of them have been placed facing the rocky part full of weeds, which in summer look shrivelled and dry.

I really hope that the new local council at the helm after the results of the local election will take the necessary remedial action. And the sooner this action is taken the better. Let’s hope that the new council will not wait until the next election to take action.