Dispute over new traffic arrangements in Rabat

The ire of the Rabat local council against what it called lack of consultation by the Transport Ministry on the new traffic system in the locality led to the council closing down its offices all day yesterday.

Work continued inside the offices even if the doors were closed.

Transport Minister Censu Galea said that although he had not personally met the council on the issue, members of the Public Transport Authority had done so regularly.

A council spokesman said the issue of traffic arrangements turning Borg Olivier Street into a one-way system with traffic coming into Rabat from Buskett and Dingli, passing through Kola Xara Street, had been going on for the past year.

The council said yesterday traffic signs had been put up but were covered by opaque plastic in preparation for Monday when Kola Xara and Nikola Saura streets would be made one-way.

By making Nikola Saura Street one-way, a driver meaning to leave Rabat towards Valletta would first have to go round the village centre, the spokesman said.

The council is arguing that the minister of transport broke the law when he failed to consult the council on the new traffic arrangements.

The spokesman said the council was informed of these new traffic arrangements by means of a letter that arrived at the council offices last Thursday when most of the council members were in Tarquina, Italy to discuss a twinning agreement.

In a bid to stop the ministry from going ahead with its plan to put into effect the new traffic arrangements, the council has filed an application for a warrant of prohibitory injunction against the minister of transport.

This time last year, Kola Xara Street residents had called on the traffic control board to reduce the amount of traffic going through the road, to declare the same street a one-way thoroughfare and to provide an alternative route to traffic coming from Buskett and Dingli via Labour Avenue, in Nigret.

Mr Galea said the new traffic arrangements made life easier for anyone driving into Rabat. Those leaving Buskett and Dingli but not needing to go through Rabat would have to drive through Labour Avenue, in Nigret and Mtarfa Road.

Asked whether he was prepared to meet the council over this issue, Mr Galea said he had never closed any doors to anyone.