The Mrieħel industrial area is gearing up for a cleanup, a flood-relief project and a traffic-management plan.

“The more we clean, the more people dump. So we are in the process of acquiring powers to be able to educate and enforce,” said the CBDF head.

The Central Business District Foundation has “established several priority projects to be implemented within the next three years”, though no specific dates have been mentioned.

The Times of Malta has reported on the neglect in the area, which hosts about 6,000 employees in hundreds of businesses – including Allied Newspapers – and aspires to become an upmarket financial district.

A walk around the area reveals poorly maintained roads, discarded waste and haphazard parking and construction work.

Frustrated residents complain they are living in “Third World conditions”.

WATCH: Confusion, dust and even a dead cat in Mrieħel

Central Business District Foundation CEO Keith Fenech said its first priority was a system for the regular collection of the waste generated by small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as a street-sweeping contract.

In fact, the foundation is financing a 12-month waste collection and street-sweeping pilot study.

Asked when the system would be implemented, Mr Fenech said the pilot project would acquire data in preparation for a long-term tender.

The pilot system will run for 12 months due to seasonal variations but “will stay in place until a more permanent arrangement is set up”.

The Central Business District Foundation has “established several priority projects to be implemented within the next three years”.

Another priority project is a traffic-management plan drawn up by Transport Malta.

The Central Business District Foundation intends to formulate a long-term vision to help give development a framework

An extensive consultation exercise will be launched shortly, with the aim of freeing up the roads and allowing public transport in the area.

When asked about the commencement date of the consultation process and the traffic-management plan, the reply was that the “consultation period is being discussed with Transport Malta as the experts in the field.

For the foundation, the traffic-management plan is a matter of priority.”

The foundation also intends to “formulate a long-term vision to help give development in the area a framework within which to happen”. Discussions with the Planning Authority are ongoing, in order to launch the project “shortly”.

The planned flood-relief project will cost an estimated €110,000, and about €600,000 will be spent to upgrade street lighting and improve safety.

Tenders for both projects were being finalised with the Department of Contracts, the foundation said. This was because the foundation had to adhere to public procurement regulations, meaning procedures and timing had to be respected.

The foundation was set up in March 2016 to oversee the general order of the area, “act as a catalyst for change” and promote a long-term vision for the district as a centre for business. It is a public-private initiative and embraces 30 private entities, which contribute financially. The government matches the financial contribution of the private sector on a yearly basis.

Since appointing its CEO on August 1, 2016, the foundation has, among other things, spearheaded rebuilding a stretch of road that was gradually collapsing.

This project, on Triq in-Negozju and parts of Triq San Ġwakkin, Triq l-Imprendituri and Triq is-Salib tal-Imrieħel, was completed at a total cost of €320,000.

The foundation also invested €15,000 on the day-to-day maintenance of roads last year. This primarily involved pothole repairs and street cleaning. It has now started working on the refurbishment of pavements as part of the landscaping process.

A €95,000-project to embellish the east side of the district (Triq il-Kanun, Triq il-Mitħna, Triq l-Industrija and Triq il-Kummerċ) has also been launched. This first phase of the project is expected to be completed by mid-May.

The foundation “regularly maintains” all storm-water gutters and, in August and September of 2016, it carried out a “thorough cleanup campaign”, collecting over 186 tons of fly-tip material.

Talks are under way with the Cleansing Department to repeat the initiative.

However, Mr Fenech remarked, such campaigns must be supported by enforcement.

“The more we clean, the more people dump. So we are in the process of acquiring delegation powers to be able to educate and enforce,” he said.