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St Paul’s Bay business demands stop to removal of wide pavement
Transport Malta wants to remove wider pavement constructed by St Paul’s Bay council without its authority
11 September 2013, 12:00am
Chris Mangion
Chris Mangion
2 min read
A family of three businessmen have filed a warrant of inhibitory injunction against Transport Malta and St Paul's Bay local council after the latter was ordered to remove a pavement the council widened without Transport Malta's authority.
Joseph, Miguel and Mariana Portelli own three shops at the corner between Triq it-Turisti and Triq il-Maskli. The three establishments are a lotto office, a cafeteria and a wines and tobacco shop. The three are asking the court to impede the two authorities from carrying out roadworks to return a built-out pavement to its previous size.
The businessmen claim that such alterations would damage their business and adversely effect their sales.
Events date back prior to July this year when the local council widened the pavement at the corner between Triq it-Turisti and Triq il-Maskli. The aim of this alteration was to make the area safer for pedestrians. The council also had plans to move the zebra crossing away from the corner to make it more safe given the high flow of traffic through these roads.
On 19 July, Transport Malta informed the council that the alteration of the pavement was done without its permit. TM gave the local council three days to return the pavement to its previous state, or the Authority would remove the build-out at the expense of the council.
Four days later, on 23 July, Architect Daniel Micallef, on behalf of the local council informed TM that meeting were scheduled to find a solution acceptable for all concerned. He also asked TM to suspended the notice requiring the reinstatement of the site.
The request for inhibitory injunction, further read that the only authority legally empowered to remove developments is MEPA and TM has no legal power to carry out enforcement over unsanctioned built-outs.
The application was signed by lawyers David Camilleri and Joseph Gatt.
Chris Mangion is MaltaToday’s photojournalist, joining the newspaper in 2013.
In 1995...
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It is disgraceful that Transport Malta and the St Paul's Bay local Council, past and present, have radically decimated the parking areas available to residents to benefit shop owners with reserved parking, Loading / unloading bays, degenerate double yellow lines everywhere against the Highway Code. Why? Because these shop owners pay a handout to the Council for assisting them to block the roads. Such is the state of absolute disrespect for residents and owners of apartments and homes. It is absolutely disgraceful that this is still permitted under Malta Taghna Ilkoll. It is clear that Malta was, and still is TAGHHOM ILKOLL.
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Why not go to triq il Hgejjeg and see how some bars took advantage and removed a number of parking places for their own use. Not to mention how most of the bars that have widened the pavement in front of their business inorder to switch off the lights, switch off the airconditioners and have their customers outside enjoying diesel and petrol fumes! But hey who cares as long as the electricity bill is low eh? and all of this on public land! Transport Malta should also check how some residents in Triq il Hgejjeg have a supply of yellow paint to reserve their own parking places infront of their house! Triq il Hgejjeg in my opinion is free for all were parking is converned. I implore transport malta to visit Triq il Hgejjeg and get things sorted once and for all!
