Sliema circular bus service launched

A new circular bus service calling at strategic points in the Sliema area starts operating today.

A Sliema local council initiative, the service will be operated through a contract awarded to the Public Transport Association.

Sliema mayor Robert Arrigo said a proposal had been made by the council to Parliamentary Secretary George Pullicino so that part of the money derived from the commuted parking scheme - a scheme which is beefed up by funds forked out by developers of land to compensate for parking space - would be channelled to the council to buy an electric low floor mini-bus for the circular service.

The idea would hopefully materialise by the summer.

Mr Arrigo said the new circular bus service had about 15 stops in strategic places such as the post office, the police station, the clinic, banks, the churches and hospital.

He said the service was expected to satisfy a long standing need in Sliema, particularly because of the difficult parking situation there.

The service would be particularly convenient for those people who had errands and did not want to use their car and lose their parking space, he said.

The service is free of charge and is mainly intended for Sliema residents, Mr Arrigo said.

It operates from the Sliema ferries from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.