A continuous water front from the Grand Harbour in Valletta, snaking around into the three Cities, is the ultimate aim.
One understands that building crews could not set out and just do it all in one go – and so the decision was taken to do things in stages. There was, of course, Valletta waterfront and it has served its purpose. It has regenerated the area and improved it no end. It has also made Valletta an important cruise stop, as well as providing jobs and an alternative entertainment spot for locals and tourists alike.
We then saw the Vittoriosa waterfront materialise and again, it has helped the area no end – with the same written above applying too. In Vittoriosa, the project also saw the whole city change – from a rundown part of Cottonera to a busy commercial and cultural hub. It is no coincidence, as the waterfront took shape, more money poured into Vittoriosa and it was supported by government and private projects to regenerate the city’s interior.
There are, of course others – Kalkara, Senglea and of course, Cospicua and that brings us to our point.
Hundreds of residents turned out to protest against the excessive delays in rehabilitating Dock 1 in Cospicua yesterday. They were also protesting against the neglect in the area which has taken over as projects drag on into eternity. Mayor Joe Scerri listed a number of problems in the locality and residents held up placards saying that they felt they, and their city, deserved more.
The latest holdup, he said involved paving works. He said that the government had previously informed the local council that paving works at Paolino Vassallo Square would start in end September, and would be completed by the time the city celebrates the Immaculate Conception feast on 8 December. However, works were subsequently postponed, and a parliamentary question confirmed that they would only start next year. It’s a vicious circle, work is at a standstill after contractor Marinelli Costruzioni SpA was sacked for excessive delays.
The mayor pointed to several cases of neglect, pointing out that street pavements leading from the sports complex to Notre Dame Gate were upgraded, but works stopped short, and the rest of the pavement is badly broken up.
He also mentioned flood spots, the need for pedestrian crossings near a school, the state of neglect in Cottonera Garden, the planting of trees which died due to lack of maintenance, and the need for a bus shelter replace one that was destroyed when a bus crashed into it over a year ago.
The government issued a statement in response, saying that all the necessary steps to minimise inconveniences after the contractor was sacked were taken. It also said that the government was committed to complete the project by the end of July, it added. Yes, all well and good. But in order for Cospicua to be transformed, there needs to be an all round spruce up and drive to make it into a nicer place. It is proven. If people are given the pride they deserve in their locality, they will look after it more and it will automatically become a much better place. It has happened before and it will happen again, but someone has got to get the ball rolling. Cospicua really does deserve better.