A Sliema resident, in need of a permit, arrived at the local council office at 8am and found one employee having to deal with customers and incoming calls. Three other people were already waiting and, within half an hour, the queue had grown to 10. The employee was doing a sterling job but just could not cope. One of his biggest problems was not having enough change. At 8.45am, two other employees arrived and began to deal with customers. Are these their normal working hours?

Risky ways

Cyclists and pedestrians using the relatively wide Pietà pavement on Wednesday had to risk life and limb and make their way out onto oncoming traffic all because an inconsiderate van driver opted to park there and block the way. Where are the traffic police and wardens when needed?

Foul water

Given the volume of water flowing down the road, Naxxar residents wonder whether the water outflow system of houses in Labour Avenue is connected to the drainage system. The situation is causing a lot of inconvenience, not least through foul smell and an invasion of mosquitoes.

Cast iron

Is it legal to have bollards just below the pavement as is the case in the road corner with Cathedral Street, in Sliema? If not, is it possible nobody in authority has spotted them and, more importantly, did something about them?

Red light spot

Until some time ago, Transport Malta officers used to be stationed at the traffic lights next to the Independence Monument in Floriana to wave on traffic coming from the direction of the War Memorial even when the lights were red, provided the road was clear. For some reason they are no longer deployed there and the result is a long line of cars, even blocking a lane in St Anne Street, waiting for the lights to turn green when no traffic is coming from the direction of Floriana church.

Access denied

Elderly people bathing at Fond Għadir in Sliema are complaining about the closure of a passage that gives them quick access to a stairway to Tower Road. Mepa investigated and declared the low iron gate barring access illegal and the owners removed it immediately. But it was soon back again once the officials left.

If you have an item for On The Dot, send it to onthedot@timesofmalta.com. Please include all particulars, especially a contact telephone number. Items are sent under the express understanding and condition that the editor may, and is authorised to, disclose any/all of the personal information mentioned above to any person or entity requesting the information for the purposes of legal action on grounds that such person or entity feels aggrieved by the item published.