The St Julian’s local council will forge ahead with its application before the Planning Authority, despite a new Infrastructure Malta plan for the village square.
Mayor Guido Dalli said that while the council’s proposal was meant to return the village square back to the people, with lots of open spaces, the Infrastructure Malta project will divert traffic into the square.
The roads agency said the council’s plans would have created more traffic and congestion so it decided to go ahead with its own project, which it hopes will improve traffic flow.
But Mr Dalli insisted that the project as the roads agency wanted it will be diverting traffic into the square rather than away from it.
“We tried to do something which would give St Julian’s a proper square, something it does not have. We wanted to have an open space where people can relax and where visitors can take photos. What we have at the moment is an eyesore and it will remain an eyesore with the project Infrastructure Malta is doing here,” Mr Dalli said.
Drivers would be diverted into the square around the Sacred Heart roundabout, one side of which will become a parking area for nine cars, mostly police vehicles for the St Julian’s police station.
Drivers coming from Balluta will have to turn down and go around the Sacred Heart monument if they want to keep driving up towards Paceville.
Local council did not present any information about its proposal
The road near Tex Mex will become one-way going down while the parking areas in front of the St Julian’s police station and adjacent restaurants will be removed.
According to Mr Dalli, this new traffic system will create more congestion, especially at intersections. He is also concerned that cars parked in the few parking spaces will need to reverse onto oncoming traffic to get out of their parking bays.
A spokesman for Infrastructure Malta has insisted that the council had been asked to attend a meeting to discuss the junction upgrade plans required to ease congestion difficulties in this part of St Julian’s.
“During this meeting, the local council did not present any information about its proposal to close this junction and part of St George’s Road but simply rejected Infrastructure Malta’s plans and left the meeting,” he said.
“The ongoing junction upgrade works are essential to reduce travel time delays, related congestion pollution and improve road users’ safety in Spinola and several other nearby areas of St Julian’s and Sliema.”
He said the agency’s road planners explained to the council and its architect that its proposal will create increased commute delays and more air and noise pollution for residents and visitors in this area.
“While the creation of new public open spaces in any locality is a commendable initiative, this should not be planned in isolation, without taking into consideration all related factors such as the area’s transport systems and other social, infrastructural, economic and environmental requirements,” he added.