Stall owners did not turn up at the new site of the Monti open market at the Park and Ride site in Blata l-Bajda this morning amid continued disagreement on the move from St James Ditch, Valletta.

This is the second Sunday that the popular Monti has not been set up.

The market has been forced out of St James Ditch because of works to transform the site into a new bus terminus.

Informed sources said that most of the stall owners appeared to agree to move to Blata b-Bajda but a minority is holding out, insisting that they should move to Floriana in the area around Sarria Church and the road leading to the granaries.

The Secretariat for small businesses is insisting that the Blata l-Bajda site is the best. It is the most spacious, it is close to easy parking facilities, it is close to all bus services, and the market will not cause inconvenience to neighbours.

A representative of the stall owners had initially called for the market to be moved to St Anne Street in Floriana, restricting traffic to a few lanes.

That suggestion was immediately rejected because of the impact on traffic and the inconvenience to residents, especially because of the noise created by the stall owners when they turn up to erect their stalls at 4 a.m.

The proposal to move to the Sarria area is also being rejected because the area is simply too small - Between 195 and 215 stalls are put up every Sunday.

It was also pointed out to the stall owners that the area of Sarria was closed to all traffic for many Sundays last year because of activities held on the granaries, a situation which would cause considerable loss of earnings for the stall owners.

The stall owners are expected to hold a meeting this morning and may also draw lots for places at Blata l-Bajda, thus settling the issue.