I am a widowed senior citizen living on my own in Ta’ Xbiex, and without a driving licence. I therefore have to use public transport regularly so as not to be a burden on family and friends. There must be countless other Ta’ Xbiex residents in the same situation.

From the earliest days of the Arriva service I have been phoning both their customer service and Transport Malta for the return of our ‘old’ bus route 64, but to no avail. My calls were all answered politely and I have always been told that my complaint would be passed on, but no action has been taken at all to return this service to us Ta’ Xbiex residents.

The ‘old’ bus shelter is still standing. As things stand, all three buses (11, 12 and 13), on their way from Valletta to Sliema, use just one bus route – that which goes through Rue D’Argens only; they bypass Ta’ Xbiex completely. This means that returning home from Valletta we have to alight either near the Msida police station (where we have to face a long uphill walk and a further six-block stretch) or near the FXB showroom which still means a long, very tiring six blocks’ walk.

Also, to go to Sliema, we either have to catch the bus from Msida – again, the bus stop near the police station – or walk all the way down to the bus stop near KFC on the Sliema Strand. This is no joke, especially for us senior citizens and for schoolchildren returning home with heavy satchels – especially now in rainy weather and after sunset.

I appeal to Arriva and to Transport Malta to give this matter their urgent attention.