(Adds Transport Malta's reaction)

Floriana Council has washed its hands from any problems that might arise from new traffic arrangements which came into effect today.The traffic arrangements were introduced because of works on the new Valletta terminus.

Mayor Nigel Holland told a news conference that during a meeting with Transport Malta last Thursday, the council was given 24 hours to come up with a proposal as to where buses could park until the necessary work was done.

The council, he said, proposed Notre Dame Ditch but the proposal was not accepted because of the police offices and fire station.

The council was told that the longer distance to the Triton Fountain would hinder coordination.

So buses were today parking around the Granaries and at Triq il-Mall taking up residential parking spaces, Mr Holland said.

He pointed out that Triq Sarria was expected to be closed for at least one month after which it would probably be reopened in only one lane.

The work related to the terminus was expected to take 13 weeks.

Mr Holland said when asked that a meeting to discuss arrangements for carnival was being held on Tuesday between the Carnival Committee, Transport Malta, the police and the council.

TRANSPORT MALTA'S REACTION

Transport Malta reiterated that the current temporary traffic and parking arrangements in Floriana and its periphery were the best solution in the present circumstances. It regretted the inconvenience caused to the Floriana residents and business community.

Transport Malta said that various proposals were considered which included the parking of buses at Notre Dame Ditch; the utilisation of the public car parks and the Park and Ride and the use of Triq Sarria as an overlay for buses.

For various reasons including manoeuvrability of buses, co-ordination of overlay bus operations, general traffic management and safety measures for road users, it was decided that the most feasible option that would cause the least inconvenience would be the closure of Triq Sarria.

Forming an integral part of the Public Transport Reform, the works on the Valletta Bus Terminus, in their entirety, were expected to be completed by the end of June, it said.

Traffic management schemes would be updated as necessary, however, the current measures were expected to remain in place for the coming four weeks.

The new terminus, Transport Malta said, would see the introduction of adequate boarding areas for passengers and state-of-the-art information displays.