GRTU threatens to sue over disruptive road works

Developers and contractors could not continue to ignore the impact of construction on the commercial community and had to shoulder the responsibility of any negative impact, said the Malta Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises - GRTU.

It was not enough for the contractors to have the required permits - the GRTU reserved the right to sue for any damages suffered by shop owners.

Arrangements had to be made to ensure that the discomforts caused by the blocking of roads and the stopping of the traffic flow would be kept to a minimum, insisted GRTU director general Vince Farrugia in a news conference yesterday.

The GRTU has embarked on a new concept for the the better management of road works. In fact, road works in Mosta's main artery, Constitution Street, which are starting today, have been managed in such a way that they would cause the least inconvenience possible to shop owners and consumers, he said.

Enemalta, which will be carrying out the works, had requested that the entire road be closed for three weeks. But after meetings with the Malta Transport Authority, a compromise solution was found, GRTU president Paul Abela said.

Traffic diversions would be localised and limited to specific times, while buses would have access to the road in every direction and the contractor would have to stop works to let them pass.

The ADT will be setting up road signs for deviations and traffic is expected to pass through secondary roads where necessary, he added.

The plan is that the works starting today in the market area would be completed by next Monday.

The GRTU has appealed to other local councils to collaborate and request meetings with it in the case of disruptive road works which affected shops, so that traffic management arrangements would be made.

The Mosta council case was the first of its kind and the GRTU was convinced it would succeed, hoping that the model of consulting with it would be adopted in every other locality.

The role of the GRTU was, after all, to safeguard the interests of the commercial community, which was offering a decentralised service, said Mr Farrugia, stressing the importance of economic activity in the locality.

The GRTU was involved in talks with other local councils on reserved parking schemes and other traffic issues.

It would also be holding meetings with the Mosta local council on the development of the town square, with the hope of establishing target dates and getting the project off the ground to everybody's satisfaction. The GRTU would be presenting its proposals and details of the project would be discussed in the coming days, Mr Farrugia said.