Reference is made to Victor Sammut’s letter ‘Reopen Archbishop Street’ (March 28).

In his letter, Sammut argues that Archbishop Street remains closed to traffic due to pressure by the restaurant owners. This is very untrue. Archbishop Street was closed when restoration works had to be carried out on that side of the Grandmaster’s Palace.

The temporary closing of this street due to the works proved the popularity of this street and revived an area of Valletta with much potential. What was a temporary measure turned out to be a blessing in disguise and now there seems to be a general consensus that this street is better off left for pedestrians and entertainment. I do not live in Birkirkara.

I live in Valletta and just two blocks away from Archbishop Street. I have no restaurants or business interests and it is true that closing this street involved a detour to all those entering Valletta by car, including myself. It also involved losing a bit of parking space. But I say, so what?

I am much more in favour of this street remaining closed and watching it come to life during the day and night than seeing cars driving through it. One of the establishments there has recently even put up a series of performances of Shakespeare’s works. Which is commendable.

This would have been impossible had the street been open to traffic. It is high time that people like Sammut started to appreciate that Valletta is not there for the cars or for those who do not want to walk that extra 50 metres.

It’s high time that Valletta is returned to the people.

A few years ago we were all rooting to see Valletta come to life.

We now want to kill the life that is slowly taking shape. And it was quite unfortunate that this letter had to be published on the day when we were celebrating (or should have been celebrating) Valletta’s 450th birthday.

For Valletta’s birthday we should have closed off all of the city as a gift to the city itself.