James Debono An application submitted by the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs earmarks the long neglected Qui-Si-Sana gardens into a recreational park, set to contain water features and various play areas for children, surrounded by turf.
This emerges from plans submitted to MEPA on 30 October. The new project replaces the controversial Qui-Si-Sana car park, earmarked in a development brief issued in 2002, which has been definitely shelved.
But residents were baffled that the application identified the location of the project as Sliema and not Qui-Si-Sana. Since the application is still at a ‘vetting stage’, it has not yet been issued for public consultation despite the fact that the target date for completion of the project is set on 23 February.
Ministry officials confirmed that the application presented by the Ministry is complimentary to an application submitted by the Transport Authority in 2007 for the widening of the promenade and the construction of a roundabout opposite the Fort Cambridge development.
The 2007 application was the subject of an email sent to residents this week claiming that the project will degrade half a kilometre of coastline, and that a large part of the Qui-Si-Sana garden will be destroyed to accommodate the roundabout.
Plans submitted to MEPA show that the promenade will be extended on cantilevers, a system of columns identical to that used to extend the promenade on the Balluta foreshore.
But ministry officials insisted that the promenade extension will not occupy any part of the beach, as most of the columns will be set on an existing path covered by concrete. The space taken by the columns will be limited, big enough to accommodate a bench.
The ministry officials confirmed that the roundabout, envisioned as traffic calming measures for cars entering the new MIDI tunnel and which will replace the present car-park, will not take any space from the present playing field. In fact the space for recreational play grounds will increase over the present facilities.
Residents are concerned that the new traffic measures will increase the volumes of traffic passing through a residential area set between Ghar id-Dud and the massive Fort Cambridge and Midi developments.
Any comments?
If you wish your comments to be published in our Letters pages please click button below. Please write a contact number and a postal address where you may be contacted.
Search:
MALTATODAY
BUSINESSTODAY
Download MaltaToday Sunday issue front page in pdf file format
All the interviews from Reporter on MaltaToday's YouTube channel.
