The Chamber of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (GRTU) has called for business owners to be consulted when plans for public projects are drawn up or changed.

It said it wanted the Small Business Act, which protects the interests of small businesses, to be better enforced to ensure they do not fall victim to delayed or altered plans.

The GRTU highlighted the recent changes to the City Gate project, the closure of the Marsascala Family Park and the discontinuation of the managed time parking scheme in Naxxar as particularly detrimental.

A chamber spokeswoman told Times of Malta that the GRTU had written to the Government asking for economic impact assessments to be carried out for all future plans.

The one-year delay to the City Gate project had added to the “significant losses” experienced by businesses in the area, she complained, adding that many were considering downsizing.

Charles Aguis said foot traffic to his clothes shop in the City Gate Arcade had all but disappeared as a result of the Valletta regeneration project.

“I might as well close – this used to be a hub of business and now it’s empty,” he said pointing to the empty hallways of the once-thriving arcade.