I am writing to appeal for the umpteenth time to the authorities concerned about the state of a number of streets in Valletta.

Since the introduction of the CVA system, St Lucia Street on the Marsamxett side and St Christopher Street on the Grand Harbour side have become main vehicular exits. One only needs to make official enquiries to discover the huge amount of vehicles that use the streets to exit Valletta, especially the former.

Due to this heavy usage, nearly all the cold surfacing on trenching for household water services repairs have become dangerous holes for both vehicles and pedestrians. Taking St Lucia Street in point, there are at least six such holes under the pavements between Old Bakery Street and West Street. Residents in this area have labelled these holes as "unofficial traffic calmers", although the possibility of ruptured water lines will only mean the loss of precious fresh water and the inconvenience and expenses involved in repairs.

The heavy rains during the last few days have not helped as the torrents of water, and this is not being exaggerated, have continued to dislodge much of the remaining infill in parts of these trenches. The matter concerning the excessive rainwater that runs downhill from the high grounds of Republic Street and its environs is ridiculous. We read of projects for the extension works in the Grand Harbour and the vision for Marsamxett Harbour, yet an infrastructural concern such as this cannot seem to be solved. Has anyone tried walking down Old Bakery Street or one of the side streets leading from Republic Street during the rainy season? I wish that I had a camera with me to show readers that St Mark Street and the Marsamxett area become as bad as Msida when it rains.

When addressing these problems to the various people concerned, my complaints have either fallen onto deaf ears or I was told that they'll be attended to when the area is earmarked for a particular project. Well, I have been living here for the last 26 years and nothing has changed. It might have changed in other parts of the city, but it seems to be getting worse down here. Can someone at least open the many blocked water grilles or locate the buried water culverts for a start?

These are but a few of the problems facing most of Valletta, especially the Marsamxett side. If space had allowed, I would include the pestilence of pigeon droppings or the many loose or broken stone slabs on our historic stepped streets and pavements, but instead I sincerely wish a very healthy and prosperous new year to all.