Swieqi mayor slams ‘horrendous’ footbridge plan

Plans to develop a pedestrian bridge linking Swieqi and Pembroke are facing major opposition from residents and councillors, who say they were never consulted about the proposal. 

Swieqi mayor Noel Muscat described the proposal as "horrendous" and said the council is organising a protest against the plan, to be held on Saturday, April 25.  

“Ignoring the views of a locality that has 16,000 people is shocking… This lack of consultation is an imposition,” the mayor said, noting that the council, like residents of Swieqi, found out about the proposed footbridge through social media last month.

Planning application PA 1595/26, filed by Infrastructure Malta, requests the construction of a pedestrian footbridge along Triq Sant Andrija, connecting Swieqi with parts of Pembroke. 

Triq Sant Andrija is a busy throughfare leading to the Coast Road. It was redesigned and reconstructed just a couple of years ago as part of a major roadworks project. 

The footbridge will cut across Triq Sant' Andrija, which links to the Coast Road. Photo: PA

Documents filed as part of the application indicate the footbridge will be located slightly north of a supermarket complex and sports club that lie along the road. 

The local council, along with several Swieqi residents, has since registered its objection to the footbridge proposal.

Well over 100 objections had been filed against the planning application by the time of publication. 

Residents say the planned footbridge is an eyesore that will devalue their properties and that its location - far from the hearts of both Swieqi and Pembroke - makes no sense, as it will end up hardly ever being used. 

The council is also concerned about the projected cost of the proposed footbridge, which has not been disclosed.

Swieqi councillors have met with Infrastructure Malta and government representatives to discuss the plan and propose an alternative - a pedestrian underpass, which they argue would have less of a visual impact, lower long-term maintenance requirements, and could be better positioned in a more frequently used location.

Arial view of the localities. Photo: Swieqi local council

"But they are determined. They will not listen,” Muscat said. All this was communicated to residents during a meeting held on Monday evening.

He stressed that the council fully supports the principle of improving pedestrian safety and connectivity between the localities. In fact, the council had suggested this four years ago when works were being carried out in the area.

However, he said the council believes that such proposals must be properly planned, transparently communicated, and developed in close consultation with all stakeholders, particularly the affected localities.

Councillors and residents plan to meet Saturday April 25, at 10am in Triq Sant’ Andrija, at the corner with Triq is-Slielem to protest the proposal.