It had been hell for a number of weeks in the St Anthony Street area of Tigné since the preparations for the pedestrianisation of Bisazza Street, with the resultant traffic all passing through this narrow one-way street. It was obvious that vehicles were not allowed to park anywhere along St Anthony Street, for obvious reasons. Residents naturally were right to complain.
Now that traffic is permitted to pass under Tigné Point, St Anthony Street is somewhat calmer, to a certain extent though.
It has now been felt that the pavements along this street required urgent servicing; and that is exactly what the relevant ministry is at present undertaking. It is taking ages to finish the job, and it is expected that this could possibly go through to August.
The unfortunate thing about all this, and the main reason for this contribution, is that pedestrians seem to have been completely forgotten. Honestly, the lower section of this rather steep hill is literally impossible for pedestrians and those with perambulators to walk through, except by risking being hit or run over by one of the many vehicles that still use this important road. The residents will always find reason for complaining whichever way the decision goes! But could not the pertinent authority/ies have considered the pedestrian, and not permitted vehicles to park in the few bays in that lower section of St Anthony Street, while work on the pavements was in progress? Should parking take preference over the pedestrian, especially when there is simply no alternative for these except to use the street itself?
Why hasn’t the Sliema local council, mayor and all, made any contribution to attempt to find a compromise here again? For all we Sliema residents have been witnessing these last months, the entire Sliema council should, in all fairness, simply resign en bloc. Sliema needs more dynamic material, and this certainly is not what the present Sliema local council is made of! The majority of the residents are of this opinion I’m afraid! Our town has been in a mess for far too long, and the local council certainly is to blame in the majority of cases!
A pavement in the lower section of St Anthony Street, on the side of La Rive, would be of great comfort and would make a lot of sense.
The larger vehicle is literally unable to pass freely unless vehicles are prevented from parking along this stretch of this street which has become indispensable for traffic in this area to head to the seafront.
No parking of vehicles and a pavement for the safer use by us pedestrians is what is urgently desired and required, please.
Sliema council kindly note, and act please!