The authorities should realise that the Sliema transport plan was not wanted, and was unnecessary, though the Malta Environment and Planning Authority was still processing the first phase of the plan to widen the Qui-si-sana road at the expense of the foreshore, the Qui-si-sana and Tigne’ Residents Association said.

Their statement was issued in the wake of a public consultation meeting on 7 February, which discussed the plan. The association said it was satisfied with the outcome of the meeting.

This had “clearly demonstrated” that neither the residential, nor the commercial community, was in favour of the pedestrianisation of Bisazza Street; both communities are in agreement that the number of parking places at the Ferries be maintained or increased, and that the Tigne’ peninsula is already congested as a result of the existing projects therefore no permission should be given for any further development, the association said.

It added that the processing being conducted by MEPA, of the first phase of the transport plan to widen the Qui-si-sana road at the expense of the foreshore, was taking place before the end of the public consultation and without having undergone an Environmental Impact Assessment as is required by Maltese and EU law.

“This reduces the consultation process to the level of a farce, and may lead to the conclusion that this consultation meeting has been held simply as a pre-election exercise,” the association said pointedly.