Taċ-Ċawsli Road, from Żabbar to Żejtun, is in dire need of a makeover. The stretch of road has subsided in various places and needs to be built from the foundations up. Another thoroughfare that needs to be seen to is the next one up, Alfred Cachia Zammit Road, that leads into Żejtun. When will the local council do something about it?
Kamikaze mode
With works underway on December 13 Road, Marsa, perhaps it is time to repair the push button on the pedestrian crossing adjacent to Spencer Hill. Pedestrians crossing here cannot press the button and remain stranded until they take the chance to make a suicidal dash across the road.
Shoddy work
Work is still ongoing at the Mdina Ditch garden, despite it having been officially inaugurated a few days before the election. What is truly worrying is the standard of the work done. Most of the pathway stones are cracked and damaged, giving the place a really shoddy look.
Dangerous railings
Just above the Mdina ditch lies Howard Gardens. The boundary wall overlooking the ditch is made from concrete and horizontal metal pipes, making it very easy for children to climb up. The concrete has definitely seen better days and is cracked in a number of places. Isn’t it about time that it is replaced and made somewhat safer?
Freeport expansion
It seems like Malta Freeport is exploring the possibility of expanding and is having talks with the Government about extending its parameters. It was reported that a “piece of land” close to the Freeport site in Birżebbuġa has “been identified” as a possible space for further expansion. Has the company ever considered land reclamation? Why should it continue taking up precious space from Birżebbuġa residents? Will they encroach further on the bathing area?
Wishful thinking
The April Fool joke run on timesofmalta.com reporting that the Government had decided to bring back the old buses and their colourful drivers, went down well. Most considered it as a very good practical joke that worked. Surely, it must have been wishful thinking to many too, which says a lot about the service being offered by Arriva, where so many problems still persist.
Third World status
This picture shows wires crossing Tower Road, Sliema. Electricity and telephone cables haphazardly hanging spaghetti-like, are a common sight in this country. It is a common sight also in the main cities of Third World countries.
What’s the point?
Mistakes do happen and oversights there will always be, but one private radio station has a habit of running adverts past their ‘sell-by date’. Last week, it was still running promotions on some Easter Sunday offers and an advert (in Maltese, of course) spoke of “now that March is here...” This station may be offering bargain rates for ads but what’s the point of paying for promotions broadcast after the event or offer is held/made?
Men at work…
Drastic measures need to be taken to ensure that scaffolding put up to carry out works on façades and that allow pedestrians to still use the pavements below are properly covered. That is not the case with the scaffolding outside a toy shop in South Street, Valletta. Dust and debris could be seen falling on pedestrians and passers-by through the material used to cover the scaffolding and through the planks themselves.
… in the sun
Construction companies should not only ensure that their workers use safety equipment and adhere to health and safety rules. They need to provide them with hats and sunblock, especially since they work in the sun most of the time.
If you have any item for On the dot, send it to onthedot@timesofmalta.com. Kindly include all particulars especially a contact telephone number. Items are sent under the express understanding and condition that the editor may, and is authorised to, disclose any/all of the personal information mentioned above to any person or entity requesting the information for the purposes of legal action on grounds that such person or entity feels aggrieved by the item published.