Updated 5.45pm 

The Mosta square will remain pedestrianised on the weekends, despite the council’s decision to stop the arrangement back in July. 

In a statement on Friday, the local council said it had been told by Transport Malta that the government would be closing off the square itself every Friday and Saturday evening, against the council's stated wishes. 

The newly renovated square was partially pedestrianised and closed off to traffic during the weekends, yet in July, the newly elected council took a controversial decision to end this practice come September, after residents and business owners complained about the current state of affairs in the square. 

“The Local Council is disappointed with these actions from Transport Malta, who are passing over what the Local Council feels is the best for the residents of Mosta,” the statement read. 

"The Government’s policy, which is being called ‘pedestrianisation’, cannot be applied without planning and consultation because what will be happening is to the detriment of the residents."

The council said it will continue to work in the best interest of the residents and will not let any authority "use its power" to intimidate the council.

In a notice in the Government Gazette on Friday, Transport Malta also confirmed it would be closing off the square to traffic on weekends, extending the pedestrianisation of the square until the end of October. 

In a reply to questions, Transport Malta clarified that currently the square is closed off from Saturday evening till Sunday at midnight. 

As of September, it will be closed on Fridays and Saturdays from 7.00 pm till midnight.

The entity said the decision was based on ongoing evaluations of traffic flow and public benefit. 

“Transport Malta discussed its policy with the local council earlier in the week before officially communicating its final decision. While the Authority respects the council’s views, it is important to remember that the square falls under the authority’s jurisdiction, not the local council.”

The entity said the extension of the pedestrianisation of the square is intended to provide the community with a safer and more enjoyable environment. 

“The main priority remains serving the community’s best interests through strategic urban planning.”

It did not reply to questions asking how traffic would be managed after October. 

‘We must make the best decisions not what is most convenient’ 

In a Facebook post, Transport Minister Chris Bonett criticised the newly elected local council’s decision to stop pedestrianising the Square. 

“It is useless to preach about open spaces before the election, and then the first thing you do is to push for a motion that goes in the opposite direction,” he said.

“Transport Malta spoke with the mayor and the Mosta local council, and it was clearly explained what the government’s policy is and the council advised against it. From there the government decided according to its authority.”

He said the government has the final word on the country’s traffic management and it believed the council made the wrong decision.

“No one was intimidated,” he added. 

He advised the council to present its proposals and to work with the government. 

“It is not an easy decision and sometimes not a popular one, but we are here to make the best decisions, not what is most convenient.”

The council’s attempt to reverse the decision received criticism from the government and architects. 

Transport Minister Chris Bonett said Mosta should keep the square pedestrianised, while the Chamber of Architects urged the council to make the partial pedestrianisation of the town's square a success rather than succumbing to commercial pressures by reversing it.

Antoine Zammit, the architect who was involved with the re-design of the square, said he felt let down by the council’s decision to reconsider the partial pedestrianisation of the site. 

The partial closure of the square to traffic was controversial from the outset. Some praised the initiative as good for the environment, removing traffic and harmful emissions from the town centre and creating an open space where the community could meet.

Residents of streets which have taken the brunt of the diverted traffic have, however, complained of the traffic in their streets. Others have complained that it takes them too long to reach the centre of the town, while businesses have complained of a drop in business.

PN reacts

In a statement, the PN slammed the government for ignoring the democratically elected local council, and the locality's residents.

Spokespeople for transport and local councils Mark Anthony Sammut and Chris Said said the council had launched a consultation process with residents, NGOs and businesses about the pedestrianisation of the square. 

The council had reopened the square to traffic while the consultation - and roadworks in the area - were ongoing. 

Despite this, the government - through TM - disregarded the council's decision and the will of the residents, and closed the square to traffic on Fridays and Saturdays, they added.