Mr A. M. Camilleri

Ray Bezzina, Communications Co-ordinator, Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment, in his letter of 19 December, 2004, principally bases his argument on the fact that the public consultation that took place five-and-a-half years ago to rebut Mr L. Pace’s concern about “underhand dealings” (TMIS, 12 December).

Mr Bezzina should know better that the 1999 public consultation was primarily about the proposed pedestrianisation of lower Tower Road and Bisazza Street. The car park issue was secondary. Since that distant date, much has changed. Apart from the fact that the Development Brief of 2002 is substantially different from the original one of 1999, two mega projects are nearing completion and each one of these is equipped with a car park and caters for commercial outlets.

The residents of Qui-si-Sana have shown their opposition to the proposed car park from the very beginning. To add insult to injury, the 2002 Brief incorporates commercial outlets in the car park itself by adding another floor. This was not mentioned in the 1999 Brief. A change of this magnitude in the Brief calls for fresh public consultations before any decision is taken by MEPA, more so, when the scenario of this quiet residential area is fast changing and the density of the population is expected to increase substantially. While the four car parks being proposed will be close to each other, if one had to include the car park at High Street, the Qui-si-Sana one will be the fifth. What Mr Bezzina should explain is the reason for MEPA’s reticence to hold fresh public consultation in view of these changes and especially when the application by the developer varies from the 2002 Brief.

The concern of the people is that MEPA is handing over a prime waterfront site for commercialisation against the wishes of the residents, and at the expense of their quality of life. This development, if it had to go ahead, will ruin the only open space and serene area of Sliema. As if presenting this prime area on a golden plate is not enough, around Lm160,000 (50 per cent of CPPS funds at 30/09/2000) are planned to be given to the developer. We are told that Malta can ill afford handouts at the moment. Instead, should not these funds be better spent perhaps by introducing electric buses for the conveyance of residents and visitors around Sliema? I thought that people come first.

I do not know if Mr Bezzina was informed that the residents met the Sliema local council four times and have written numerous letters to the council objecting to the proposed development. Several objections were also submitted to MEPA. This was done since the publication of the Brief. In fact, early in 2003, the council backed the residents and changed its position by turning down the proposed car park. Unfortunately, some members of the current council seemed reluctant to meet the residents at first. It had to be the recent heated meeting the residents had with the council for it to realise how strongly the residents feel against the proposed development. Is this the way local councils function? Surely they are there to represent the rights of the people of the locality. Such ill-conceived behaviour gives rise to all sorts of rumours. The smoke screen put up by Mr Bezzina of an enlarged garden needs clarification. The present garden as it is will disappear. Maybe this will be replaced by two feet deep soil on top of a concrete structure. I ask, what trees can survive in such shallow soil when the area is exposed to very strong winds? The developer’s plan shows a couple of trees at both ends and a few shrubs.

Everyone wants residential parking zones and so do also the residents of Valletta or Zurrieq, or any other residential area for that matter. This should have been introduced long ago. Modern EU norms discourage entry of vehicular traffic in residential areas. Public car parks in cities are past their time. There should be proper long term planning with an efficient public conveyance circulating around Sliema. Concentrating so much traffic on a road barely a mile long is madness to say the least. It does not make sense when we know that air pollution will soar to record heights. The whole proposed development lacks vision. Is there no concern for the health of the residents? Rumours abound.

We have the current commercial community against the pedestrianisation, as they are now wise to the fact that they will lose passing trade. The proposed car park at Qui-si-Sana will shift the trade to Town Square and Tigne Point. The residents’ quality of life will deteriorate with all the mayhem that traffic and commercial outlets bring about. Pollution in the area will become a real health hazard. Sliema will lose the last remaining quiet area and open space. Qui-si-Sana will soon change its toponomy to “Qui-si-Muore”.

Yet certain quarters continue to insist on the proposed so-called development. No wonder people are asking: “What is going on?”

Anthony M. Camilleri

Qui-si-Sana