Work on the installation of a high-tension cable in Constitution Street, Mosta, will not create massive disruption to business – as it might have done had commonsense and planning not been used.

The original plan was for the road to be closed for an entire three week period. However, after a series of discussions, prompted by the Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises (GRTU), between the local council, the Transport Authority (ADT) and the chamber itself, a traffic management plan was drawn up that ensures the busy centre will not be entirely closed to traffic on any day of the three weeks.

The plan includes the re-routing of traffic during the times that work is actually being carried out, the installation of new traffic signs and the setting up of a monitoring team which will monitor how the plan is working while it is in operation. The work involves the installation of a high-tension cable for a business establishment.

At a press conference, GRTU director-general Vince Farrugia hailed the agreement as a new concept in doing things. People have the right to work on their property and improve their amenities, etc, he said. However, they have to take into account the impact of such work on the business community.

“Mosta is a bustling centre of activity, and the idea that SMEs can put up with lost business simply because someone needs the street closed for a couple of days is simply untenable,” he said.

It is hoped that this type of collaboration can be repeated elsewhere with other local councils. “People just cannot continue with an attitude that takes no consideration of the effect their actions have on the surrounding business community,” Mr Farrugia added.

Parliamentary Secretary Edwin Vassallo was also at the press conference. He praised the initiative and encouraged the use of more similar plans. The Malta Independent asked why, with the authorities and regulations in place, such seemingly common sense planning depended on spontaneous effort.

An ADT representative at the press conference said that many permits do not involve the ADT. Permits to erect cranes, for example, such as the ones currently plaguing Sliema, depend exclusively on local councils, some of which are happy to charge the developer money instead of trying to alleviate the problems for residents and the business community.

Other permits, such as the closing of roads for festas, are the remit of the police, the ADT representative went on to explain.

The work on Constitution Street should begin tomorrow.