I was surprised to learn that the Gozo Business Chamber was entirely ignored by the authorities regarding plans for the bus terminus in Victoria, since this important organisation could offer sound proposals concerning this project.

I have always believed that major infrastructural projects in Gozo should involve exhaustive consultation with local bodies.

I still recall my involvement in our city’s short-lived civic council 50 years ago to build flats in Victoria’s Taċ-Ċawla neighbourhood as well as to choose the site for our General Hospital.

I also recall the blunder made when Victoria’s first bus terminus was built. At the time the government planners felt the area should be filled with debris, part of which resulting from the enlargement of St George’s Square, in order to align the floor of the terminus with the adjacent Main Gate Street.

Now that this area is being redeveloped, today’s planners should consider the entire excavation of this site to regale Victoria not only with a smaller bus terminus at street level, but also with a sheltered public underground car park.

Adequate parking facilities are lacking in Victoria, and there is no public sheltered car park. The problem becomes much worse in summer.

Past attempts by the local council and the Cathedral parish to set up two car parks in the shade of the Citadel proved futile. Luckily, so far, both car parks have been tolerated but at a stroke of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority’s pen they would cease functioning.

Although car parks have been allowed inside Valletta’s bastions, n the case of Victoria our bast-ions appear to deserve inviolable protection. This is inexplicable.

I hope Mepa avails itself of the impending development and rectifies the blunder that marred Victoria’s first bus terminus.