After the item about the St Luke's Hospital crumbling boundary wall appeared last week, readers wrote in to say that it was not the only negative thing about the side of the building. Several louvers have slats missing and some of them do not look too stable on their hinges. It will only take a high wind to dislodge them. These apertures must either be repaired or removed forthwith.

Bingo!

It is not uncommon to see groups of people waiting for coaches on certain days of the week, their destination being somewhere that offers a snack and several rounds of tombola or bingo. One wonders, however, if this activity is allowable when the building in question is a local council premises, and the guests are not residents of areas within the jurisdiction of the same council. Is this some kind of private party masquerading as a fund-raising activity? Can anyone be given a permit to use public buildings for private functions, just as public gardens are sometimes utilised in this manner?

Contained

At the Ta' Qali open market area, 40-foot containers have been regularly taking up parking space for over a year. Several reports have been lodged with the Attard local council, to no avail. This is a public area and, therefore, this is an obstruction at law. Ironically, the mayor says he does not know to whom these belong, although it is within his powers, and also his duty, to find out.

Binned

Several people gather at Kappillan Mifsud Square, in Ħamrun, as it is one of the few open spaces left for this purpose in such a densely built-up area. The amount of garbage generated by these persons is definitely more than that provided by the tiny bins in the area, such that there is usually more rubbish at the foot of the bins than inside them. More, or larger, receptacles must be provided.

Sunshine

The village of Għarb has provided its residents with solar water heaters, through a scheme subsidised by the European Union. The tiny size of this village was conducive to the deal, no doubt, and one cannot expect large towns and villages to be able to follow suit. Yet, it would be a good idea were some councils to try and obtain a similar deal for their residents, through which the latter, should they desire the apparatus, would only pay a percentage of the costs.

Mapping

The maps in the Yellow Pages need to be updated in order to indicate the new confines of cities, towns, and villages. Street names need to be printed in a larger font, and landmarks as well as the direct routes to the nearest places must also be indicated. It is already bad enough that signposts leave a lot to be desired; one cannot even rely on these maps.

Wired

It seems as though a feeble attempt was made to muster the cables and wires at the end of Farsons Street, in Ħamrun, where it meets with St Joseph High Road. However, the effort was short-lived, because there are still a lot of loose bits and pieces hanging along the wall. Not only do they look untidy, they are also dangerous.

Playgrounds

Some time prior to the local council elections in Birkirkara, residents received site plans indicating how the playing field would be restructured. There was also a huge billboard to this effect in the old playgrounds. For some reason, however, rather than continuing with the refurbishment, two playing fields have been destroyed and children have nowhere to play, having lost them both. This is ridiculous.

Marketing

The Valletta market had been demolished and rebuilt from the inside because it had been said that there was a need for a modern, hygienic, structure. The first thing that strikes anyone going there these days is the dank, rancid smell; the place has probably not been hosed down for weeks. Apart from that, there is a general air of disrepair around the place and it is obvious that repairs to the internal and externals walls are not being done on an ongoing basis.

Linking

Very recently, through EU funds, a new road was constructed linking St Julians to Swieqi, from Triq Josef Kalleya to Triq il-Ġiżimin. So far, it has not been given a name. The joke is that it ought to be christened Crater Street, owing to the fact that it is impossible to drive through, given its many treacherous potholes. Could this be happening because it appears to be neither in St Julians nor in Swieqi? If this is so, then it is up to the central government to see to it that the department responsible for road maintenance inspects this road and remedy the situation.

Computerised

What, exactly, is the situation with regard to the use of computers by the public at their local council offices? Some councils do not provide equipment; others provide a wi-fi connection for residents' use when they take their own laptops. Others allow only local residents to use the PC, even though they may be technically available when outsiders want to use them. So much for the fuss made about the system when it had been introduced.