The revamped Valletta market – Is-Suq tal-Belt – was a missed opportunity that “in no way fosters a sense of community”, mayor Alexiei Dingli said.
A report highlighting concerns on the impact of the Valletta 2018 on the capital, published last week, drew “justified” conclusions, Prof. Dingli told the Times of Malta. While the market was “impeccably” restored, it was also “a missed opportunity”.
“The place is very commercial and in no way fosters a sense of community. It’s a pity because it was something I had made clear to the directors [of the company running the place] when they first came to speak to me. I also invited them several times to come and meet the residents, brief them and tell them about the project.
“The market brings many memories to people from Valletta. Unfortunately, the directors of the Suq never accepted my invites. Thus, I have to conclude that their interest is not in the community but in the business they have.
“This is obviously a big loss for the city,” he said.
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Respondents who took part in the study levelled criticism at the market, expressing concern that the area outside the building could only be used by those who purchased products from the stalls inside the market.
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat on Friday officially inaugurated the mid-19th century building, entrusted to Arkadia Group, which was granted a 65-year lease on the property.
Parking sensors project in the pipeline
Accessibility, land use and space appropriation were some of the other concerns that were expressed by the study participants.
On accessibility by car, the mayor said that the parking sensors project in the pipeline should serve to address part of the problem.
He pointed out that the local council was also discussing an overhaul of the controlled vehicular access (CVA) system with the Transport Ministry.
“Accessibility is still a problem. With regard to people, a couple of years ago, I had requested the National Commission People with Disability to conduct an accessibility audit of Valletta precisely because of this. I don’t know if they finished it but, in the meantime, the local council, thanks to the €600,000 of additional funds obtained, will be uplifting pavements in Valletta,” he said.
The respondents interviewed for the study lamented land use problems, something the mayor fears is a “big issue” the capital still struggles with.
“In the past year, the local council submitted more than 20 objections to the Planning Authority. However, permits keep on being issued,” he said, adding that the biggest problem the council faced was that many did not stick to the parameters of such permits.
“It’s useless having different authorities with an enforcement section if they don’t enforce. A quick stroll around Valletta will prove what I’m saying,” he said.
He pointed out that investment in Valletta usually tended to be of a “purely commercial” nature, adding that was why the council had embarked on a crusade to oppose developments that would have a negative impact on residents.
“The council ensures that all the work going on causes as little inconvenience as possible to residents and visitors of Valletta. In most cases, since we cannot rely on wardens, we end up policing the contractors to ensure they abide by conditions imposed by the permits,” Prof. Dingli said.