Is Sliema council acting in residents’ best interests?

Around the first week of February our residents’ association wrote to Sliema council requesting permission to create an air vent (gradilji tal-kantini) on the pavement for three sub-level garage areas situated at Pace Street corner with Ċensu Xerri Street.

The request, together with relevant plans, was submitted by hand, and a few days later we received an acknowledgement.

After several telephone calls to the council we were finally promised that our request would be discussed on April 15. However, we have now been informed that the matter was not discussed.

Perhaps they are still wondering how much to spend on a referendum on residents’ parking. I believe the local councillors were elected to lead according to ad hoc necessities (for example, the closing of Bizazza Street while the ring road was still under construction has the council’s blessing), so I urge them to act like a local government and in the best interest of all.

Speaking of parking, I must add that this has become a nightmare for those who live in the Sliema/Tigné area. One cannot return home before 6.30 p.m. as no parking space would be available – especially in the coming summer evenings thanks also to the scores of building sites requiring space for their heavy machinery.