Midi denies playing part in Bisazza traffic diversion

Midi plc today said it never requested or put pressure on government or any authority to pedestrianise Bisazza Street and reduce parking at The Ferries.

Referring to claims that traffic was being diverted away from Sliema’s traditional shopping complex and through the Tigné tunnel thanks to the semi-pedestrianised Bisazza Street, Midi said its position was that bothBisazza Street and the Qui Si Sana seafront routes should be allowed access to motorists.

“We have always believed that funnelling all Sliema’s arterial traffic through one single route was bound to cause congestion, whereas splitting it would have resulted in a smoother traffic flow and fewer tailbacks,” Ben Muscat said.

Midi said that if Bisazza Street is closed – it will be offering access to public transport busses only – then steps need to be taken to alleviate the Tigné seafront traffic flow. Midi said the seafront was “choked with a combination of herringbone parking, ‘double parked’ cars hovering for vacant spaces, an unofficial double-decker sightseeing tour bus terminus and other hindrances which really should have been seen to before the tunnel was opened.  “

“The Point Shopping Mall and Pjazza Tigné were designed to complement and enhance the existing retail product at the Ferries in order to establish Sliema as Malta’s leading shopping destination,” Muscat said. “Shopping in Sliema needs to be approached in a more holistic manner and the two busy retail areas should be viewed by planners as one homogeneous zone.”

A large number of shop owners also have substantial business interests in both of these areas and thousands of shoppers frequent both zones on a regular basis, Muscat said. “They deserve nothing less.”