An inflated sense of entitlement, engendered by ‘minority’ evangelism, seems to be spreading like a virus. Yet another minority group has raised its head, possibly egged on by a rash of interest groups rallying for their dubious ‘rights’ to plunder our environment in a panopoly of ways.
Recent rumblings of a dark manoeuvre to destroy a rare and pleasant public open space, in the midst of Sliema’s urban jungle, have been emanating mostly from owners of plush apartments on the Qui-si-Sana and Tigné seafronts.
But is relegating the popular street back to its former status as a grimy street canyon really a good idea?
The pedestrianisation of this street since 2011 has created a sense of place, offering much-needed solace to Sliema’s congested centre and an essential breathing space for people who are naturally drawn to this pleasant area, a much-loved haven of tranquility.
Yet upper-crust seafront dwellers without a qualm call for the paving to be ripped out of Bisazza Street, for the traffic to be brought back, for the street to be de-pedestrianised and for the traffic-free zone to be shifted to their Qui-si-Sana/Tigné doorsteps.
Meanwhile, the ordinary person who belongs to no such specialised minority club cry: Leave Bisazza Street’s pedestrian zone alone.
The seafront apartment dwellers at Qui-si-Sana/Tigné might want to install energy-saving double-glazed windows which would help drown out carcade horns (and loud lido music). Living on the front with open sea vistas does have its price but the sea breeze brings fresh air.
The best course of action would be to push for wardens with a greater environmental role… as has been promised by both major political parties, but not seen so far on our streets. The seafront residents would do well to campaign for a beefing up of enforcement for polluting vehicles on all our roads.