The Valletta Alive Foundation has strongly objected to new local plan policy which designates Strait Street and Il-Biccerija as a ‘24-hour destination’. This, it said, could be the first step of turning Valletta into another Paceville.
In a statement last night it said this was unacceptable because it would have serious consequences for residents and other Valletta residents.
The foundation said that over the past five years there has been a consistent increase in evening activity in Valletta.
This was due to efforts by the Valletta council, the government and the private sector. More catering establishments opened in the evening and some were providing good music entertainment.
Increased evening activity in Valletta, it said, was welcome.
However, it was concerned that the authorities were not giving enough attention to the impact of the increased evening activity on residents. Noise in the evenings was becoming more of a nuisance to residents, to the extent that night time sleep was being disrupted. This would be seriously problematic in summer, unless noise and activity limits as stipulated by law were adhered to and enforced.
Moreover, with the increased influx of evening patrons, parking had become increasingly difficult for residents because of inadequate enforcement of resident parking bays.
Music played by catering establishments, it said, should be appropriate to the dignified role of the City, rich in heritage and historic architecture. Loud club music should not be allowed because it inconvenienced residents and was inappropriate to the context.
Loud club music also inconvenienced tourists staying in Valletta hotels.
“The ‘24 hour designation’ for Strait Street and Il-Biccerija is being made on the pretext of establishing a 'creativity and cultural hub’ but there is no need to have 24 hour activity to create such a hub. Culture is being used as a pretext to generate commercial night-time activity to the detriment of residents in particular and the city’s character in general.”
The designation, it said, was introduced in spite of objections by the council with the planning authority and the government ignoring the council’s view on the matter, suggesting that the authorities cared little about residents.
“Whenever decisions are taken on Valletta, careful consideration should be given to how these will impact residents. Apart from encouraging others to take up residence in Valletta, the authorities should strive to make Valletta more liveable to make it less likely for residents to move out. The needs and aspirations of residents should be given priority as Valletta’s regeneration will be undermined if residents decide to move away from the City,” it said.
The foundation urged the authorities to reverse this ‘24-hour destination’ provision and come up with a policy which took into account the needs of residents.
“VAF is seriously concerned that this will be the first step towards the degeneration of Valletta into another Paceville,” it said,