If the St Julian’s local council wants to have another bus terminus, this time for electric, powered cars, why does it not reactivate the Spinola bus terminus? When this bus terminus was shifted to Paceville, what had been in place for long years was suddenly disrupted. MEPA please note.

I think it is only right that a bus terminus is restored to this area which is near a public convenience and the police station. Another advantage of a Spinola bus terminus would be to get another bus to a further destination one would just have to walk across the square and not cross the road as is the case with the Paceville bus terminus and as would be the case if a terminus is placed in that ill suited street next to Balluta Square and valley. Alternatively the Spinola bus terminus instead of being sited in front of the ex Tiguglio, could be accommodated in the much larger less utilised road leading down for Regional Road or coming from under the rebuilt vehicular bridge (near St Joseph’s statue). As for an additional parking lot, how about building a multi-storey facility beneath the Regional Road Bridge? With the proviso this time that it would be built from funds and the revenue generated would return to the public coffer and not repeat the silver platter donation of the prime parking interests which has proven a gold mine outside Valletta!

Such a car park in Spinola should raise less qualms as this valley at this point, unlike the Balluta one, does not have any tiled fields. Such a project surely would be very popular with Giljanizi as it would also mean that a largish square would materialise just beneath their much loved parish church! For if a chapel in forgotten Manoel Island has commendably been restored, with an open area in front and even functioned for a recent wedding, why not rehabilitate an entire area and add much needed facilities in the shape of a square atop a multi-storey car park beneath the two bridges to act as focal point for people endeared to traditional, culture and quieter artistic and musical expressions? An area affording space and not having to cram St Giljan’s feast procession onto a narrow bridge. I’m sure such a project would not be less innovative than those thought up by any local version of Prince Albert of Monaco.

The actual St Julian’s local council proposals seem ideal for losing business and votes to the party in government. Wonder if there are some hidden turncoats in its folder?

J. Bonnett Balzan

Balluta