Major traffic problems would be created by the proposed massive development in the St George’s Bay area, further exacerbating the suffering of residents and motorists, according to traffic experts and mayors.
Taxpayers may also have to fund a totally new access road into St Julian’s, traffic expert Hugh Arnett warned.
Congestion would be further amplified by this project – estimated to take five years to complete – as the St George’s Bay area was already saturated during weekends, he added.
If an application filed by developer Anton Camilleri, known as Tal-Franċiz and a council member of the Malta Developers Association, is approved it would require at least widening St Andrew’s road leading to St Julian’s.
We are already suffering... Swieqi has been raped
He said it was unfair that one developer’s project would limit public access to the bay area and put a financial burden on the public.
“It will create a major, major traffic problem and it’s entirely unfair that taxpayers should pay for it,” Mr Arnett said.
The developer has filed an application in the name of Garnet Investments Limited for a development over four sites in the bay area in St Julian’s. The project has drawn strong reactions from the surrounding local councils and traffic experts have raised questions about its feasibility.
The buildings would stretch from the top of the promenade where St George’s Bay Hotel is located, down to the bay including the gardens of the protected Villa Rosa, and also Cresta Quay where a new hotel would be built.
The scale of the development required a traffic impact statement, which states that plans for junctions linking Regional Road with Paceville and Pembroke would need to be changed. At the moment, those entering the street leading to the bay have to exit either by turning left towards Pembroke or right towards the Hilton hotel: these are one-lane roads that are already congested.
Mr Arnett said cars would need to exit on to the St Andrew’s road that would have to be widened to four lanes.
Traffic expert Joe Micallef Stafrace echoed Mr Arnett’s concern that the car parks were not enough to address traffic congestion.
“Where there’s a high concentration of development, traffic congestion is inevitable. Providing parking spaces is good, but people still need to drive to them,” he said.
Swieqi mayor Noel Muscat expressed concern that traffic problems were already severe.
“This project will affect us because Swieqi roads were not designed to handle this amount of traffic,” Mr Muscat said.
He stressed that the Swieqi council would oppose such a project.
“They need to find measures to leave us in peace. We are already suffering... Swieqi has been raped.
“We are increasing the buildings without increasing the infrastructure,” the mayor said.
Traffic is also a concern for Pembroke residents. “We already have a problem, and it would get worse if this project is approved,” Pembroke mayor Dean Hili said, adding that the council had not been consulted on road plans.
“Regarding the development, what we know is there was an idea of a project but we were not informed an application has been submitted,” he added.
Pembroke residents have already expressed concern with the local council, particularly those living in William Harding Street whose homes overlook St George’s Bay. Their major concern is the protection of Wied Ħarq Ħammiem valley.
The valley, together with Għar Ħarq Ħammiem cave and Villa Rosa, are scheduled properties, which means they are protected as heritage of national importance. The cave is located underneath part of Moynihan House, which is part of the development project.
Times of Malta also contacted St Julian’s mayor Peter Bonello who said he did not have time to answer questions.
The St George’s Bay Hotel site is the largest of the four sites targeted for development.
The application proposes the site’s excavation to construct an underground car park for 1,195 cars, together with luxury apartments, a boutique hotel, 15 villas, offices, and commercial outlets.