A number of trees in Triq Birkirkara, St Julian’s are to be uprooted and replanted in Wied Ghomor to make way for of a new petrol station to be built on the site.

When asked about the development, the Planning Authority said that “due to safety requirements, trees could not be left on the site itself since they constitute a fire hazard.”

When this newsroom pointed out issues regarding traffic impact and the loss of around 12 parking spots in the zig-zag road along the centre strip; the Planning Authority and Transport Malta passed the buck to each other until a final answer was given that there were no plans to compensate for lost parking spaces.

Transport Malta said: “The Planning Authority should be able to answer your questions.” When we sent the same questions to the Planning Authority, we were told that “Issues pertaining to traffic fall under the competence of Transport Malta.”

Eventually, a week later, we were told that since the project does not spill over onto the road and thus does not directly impact traffic, Transport Malta has not been consulted. Nothing was done whatsoever about the lost parking bays despite the area being parking starved with cars from residents and employees in the area routinely circling the junction causing unnecessary traffic.

TMI then proceeded to contact St Julian’s mayor Guido Dalli about the issue and we were told that “We have a local council meeting and we will be discussing the issue.” 

This newsroom could not get a direct projection of how long the construction would take other than the Planning Authority confirming that “as with all other planning permits, the duration of the permit is for five years.”

Questions regarding the rotation of traffic light sequences went unasnwered.