One-way system planned for Swieqi

The outgoing Swieqi local council said it had recently voted to introduce a one-way street system in the whole locality.

The council was replying to residents of Triq is-Sidra who have submitted a petition to the council proposing that their street be declared one-way and speed ramps installed as a traffic calming measure.

The residents complained that hundreds of trucks and cars were passing through their street to avoid the traffic lights in St Andrew's Road, causing traffic chaos and filling the air with exhaust fumes.

The council told the residents it would be handling the issues they had put forward.

It said it would be essential for a new traffic network to be planned properly. The process had been delayed due to a pending issue with the traffic management directorate of the Malta Transport Authority (ADT) which regard to the exit/entrance at Triq id-Dris and the widening of the road leading down from the valley from Triq il-Qasam.

Petitioners had called for signs to be put up at the entrance to Swieqi banning trucks from entering unless to render a service.

"You will appreciate that introducing the one-way system will be a very costly exercise and has to be a fully developed and approved plan to be implemented successfully," the council replied.

It said over-speeding was a major concern for everyone but a contractor had already been given instructions to start works on new speed bumps, which should serve as a deterrent to heavy vehicles.

"Currently a lot of construction is taking place in our town and it is true that more trucks than usual are passing through our roads, but the vast majority are in fact rendering a service locally.

"Your recommendation to bar the whole of Swieqi to trucks would be desirable and the proposal will be discussed in the council at the earliest opportunity. However, the approval of the ADT would also be required," the council noted.

In reply to the residents question over why fewer wardens were patrolling the streets to fine people who let their dogs foul the pavement, the council said the increased presence of wardens had been received with mixed feelings. "Some complain about a heavy presence. Some that it is not enough. However, the problem with dog's waste cannot easily be solved by the presence of wardens," the council said.