http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100318/local/garden-to-replace-qui-si-sana-car-park
Thursday, 18th March 2010
Garden to replace Qui-Si-Sana car parkMepa this morning approved plans for the building of a garden to replace one of the car parks at Qui-Si-Sana.
The plans were proposed by the government, which also intends to build an underground car park under the other existing car park.
The new garden will include play areas for all ages, a gazebo, hard and soft landscaping, public facilities and a network of underground reservoirs.
The recreational space will be below street level for better protection from the wind.
The site is currently occupied by parking spaces for 52 cars. The underground car park will be twice as big.
The Resources Ministry, which submitted the application, is currently also revamping and widening the nearby promenade in a project due to be completed in June.
CommentsChristine Bright(2 hours, 55 minutes ago)I like the idea. As most said, we need far more green areas in Malta
1. Car Park: Am I correct in saying that the area has two car park? One attended by a parker and one smaller. closer to the tigne point project (next to the swings)
2. I hope that toilet facilities will be included in the project. The area will attract people of all ages and families.
3. There seems to be few benches, I would add a couple on the green side (the area closer to the sea) and make them sun friendly with shades, since we all know the summer heat in Malta.
Well done, hope the work starts soon and is ready before the summer, although I doubt it.
Anthony Pace Gouder(6 hours, 14 minutes ago)Finally an OASIS in a STONE & CONCRETE landscape .
IVA BILHAQQ !------------- ghax hemm Ttgne ? ------ The NEW Sliema Mecca , its just a few meters away !
The LAYOUT of the GARDEN , as Mr. Jo Caruna remarked , need'nt be so formal and regimentally RIGID ! Displacing the Circular Areas, alternating to the right and left with "meandering' passages would certainly be better.
As regards Parking , I believe there are 5 LEVELS OF PARKING under the Midi Development and under the Sliema W. Training Ground and the reconstructed 'stone by stone Clubhouse , which can accommodate HUNDREDS of cars .
Jacqueline Borg Cole(7 hours, 34 minutes ago)What happened to the Residential Parking Scheme that was approved by the ADT and that gets waved about everytime council elections looms?
Jo Caruana(10 hours, 36 minutes ago)Finally! A garden. But does it have to be a crop-circle garden?
Ben Cassar(11 hours, 13 minutes ago)
Resident parking for sliema. Nuff said
A.Gauci Cunningham(11 hours, 44 minutes ago)I am very happy to see such ambitious and community-friendly project.....congrats are in order to George Pullicino! Why doesn't the government show the same energy for the Bugibba area.?? This resort is crying out loud for a proper project and an investment injection. The 12 year old promenade has to go......incentives in favour of opening and re-opening of shops/hotels in the area...car park.....come on guys lets get Bugibba going too!!!
Joseph Vassallo(9 hours, 6 minutes ago)I think Bugibba is almost beyond help. All I seem to notice, whenever I venture outside, is dog faeces. My grandson and I had to walk on the road some days ago as the side-walk was littered with dog mess; we counted 32 instances of doggy events from Triq il-Qroll to the promenade near MacDonald's. When a 6-yr-old tells you they should rename this street Doggy Poo Street, it is already very serious. Later on we witnessed a local souvenir-shop owner walking his dog on the rocks below the prom and he stood by as the animal left a HUGE souvenir on a nice bit of sandy ground where children like to play.
About 22:00 last night, we even had a drunk peeing in the main road (near Travellers' Rest) in full view of passers-by. Do you still think it is worth investing in Bugibba's future if everyone accepts these deficiencies without complaint? Is there a local council here or only traffic wardens who select who to issue parking tickets to and who to allow to do as they please? An ocean of difference exists this locality and its close relative Qawra.
steve shaw(12 hours, 47 minutes ago)Nice project. Need green areas as much as possible not only in Sliema area tough as there are many other towns that need it desperatly. As this land is trurning into concrete. Same goes to Valetta City with the parlament in the square. No Space no breath just concrete buildings.
D Vella(13 hours, 1 minute ago)Catch a bus instead of blocking a parking space all day Mr Cassar. It is you and the many others like you who cause parking problems in Sliema, parking from 8 till late each and every day.
Alfred Cassar(1 day, 22 hours ago)AS usual some very intelligent people in here just read the first sentence and here they come to make their usual stupid comment.
The car park for 52 cars will be replaced with another taking twice as much cars.
However in order to start solving parking problem in Sliema we need to have a multiple storey car park where one pays say 10-12 euros a week. The present carpark behing ex-Joinwell showroom is too expensive, especially for us working in Sliema daily. It would cost us over €1500 a year to use it.
C.Busuttil(2 days, 2 hours ago)I think that the Sliema people distinguish themselves from the rest for their lack of civic mindedness.
How many have a garage and don't park their cars inside them, cheekly enough the same people complain about lack of parking spaces. The problem of Sliema is not the lack of parking spaces or over development but selfish people with no civic sense.
D Vella(2 days, 3 hours ago)To all those complaining about lack of parking spaces in Qui Si San/Tigne... stop it.
You have the car park behind the old Joinwell as well as the MIDI and Fort Cambridge garages.
You will just have to pay handsomely for the privilege,thats all..but then maybe that's the reason for doing away with street parking...Keep the Grandee's happy and rich...if you get my meaning.
Machiavellian? on this Island? never!
Charles Micallef(2 days, 6 hours ago)Sliema always comes first....the Qui-Si-Sana project it to be completed in June but can anyone tell us when is the completion date for the Qawra Point project??/
C.Busuttil(2 days, 2 hours ago)Sliema comes first in what ?
being an eternal construction site ? or for slowly but surely destroying what made ONCE, this town the most beautiful on the island?
Sliema, already has a disadvantage that part of the people of the locality are the most uncivic minded people on the island besides since big money is involved all regulations are forgotten when it comes build a new useless appartments. How is it that with all the new construction that has gone over in the last 30 years, the population in Sliema is in a sharp decline, probably the highest average of ageing population in Malta.
Charles Falzon(2 days, 6 hours ago)Why was'nt the mentioned car park finished first !!? Less Sliema parking slots, less business.
C Cassar(2 days, 5 hours ago)Not really because I and many people I know don't go shopping in Sliema because of all the traffic pollution. The more pedestrianisation and green spaces will attract far more people to the are and will significantly boost business. People will stay a lot longer in the area if it's a pleasant place to be rather than rush in and rush out as happens right now.
If you look at any nice European city, all have pleasant pedestrianised zones in their centres. Cars must take a low priority and the streets designed to deter cars coming anywhere close to these areas.
It's time to move from the 1970's and into 2010.
Warren Magro(2 days, 5 hours ago)C Cassar.
There is one problem with what you are saying. Other European cities have decent public transport that runs to them. Currently while my car is having repairs I am having to use our public transport. I must start by saying that it is running a lot better than it used to, but most of the busses themselves are dirty to an extent where I have to carefully choose clothes that will not show stains acquired when using them. Also we still have (about 1/3 is my estimate) drivers who still smoke on the bus or talk/txt with their phone while driving.
Before we force pople to stop using their own transport we need to provide a decent alternative for people to use.
Plus, all these cities have enough parking for all patrons situated right outside pedestrian areas.
You need to think before you speak.
Charles Muscat(2 days, 6 hours ago)Who need car parks in Malta? There is plenty of space wherever you go.
C Cassar(2 days, 6 hours ago)Fantastic project.Anyone with any sense would welcome a new green space with open arms in this area. Only the self centred will criticise it. The whole point of reducing parking in areas such as Sliema is to reduce the amount of polluting traffic in these areas. Drivers can park away from the area and walk. There's a Multistorey car park behind the old Joinwell building (now Next). The Maltese need to get used to the idea that you can't park a car at every location you desire.
Well done Mepa, the more green spaces and less ugly carparks (that encourage chronic air polution) the better.
In addition, when this park opens there must be a strict ban on all dogs, not only for the well being of the childrens play areas but also for the general hygene and cleanliness of the area. It should have the same restrictions as independence gardens and regularly patrolled with zero tolerance both with wardens and CCTV
The dog mess alomg the Sliema promenade is proof that at a minimum all dogs along that stretch must be kept on leads with an eventual ban in order to keep the area clean.
lisa muscat(2 days, 4 hours ago)I'm sorry but your opinion to ban all dogs from being on the promenade is totally ridiculous...where on earth do you expect us to take our dogs for a walk? There are many courteous dog owners like myself whom pick up after our dogs. Yes it is true there are some very irresponsible dog owners who give us a bad name, but should we all have to suffer??? Its cruelty to dogs to leave them locked up at home all day, they need at least 2 decent walks a day!
Should i then buy a treadmill and chain my dog to it so she gets her 2 walks a day??????
Peter Gee(2 days, 6 hours ago)The artists impression looks nice enough in theory, however I fail to see how putting it, "below ground level", I suppose below street level is what is really meant, will protect it from the wind as the locality suffers mostly from onshore NE winds. Also being below street level, the residents of the locality will not be able to enjoy it from the windows of their homes. It is useless to create gardens and recreational areas if you do not provide access in the form of parking. Is there any intention to provide a replacement for the 52 parking spaces that will disappear? Will the present kerbside parking spaces disappear as well?
Edward Fenech(2 days, 6 hours ago)Here we go again!
Kevin Camilleri(2 days, 7 hours ago)Nice park..when will it be ready??
Gordon Farrugia(2 days, 7 hours ago)When is the government going to start doing projects like these in the Bugibba/Qawra areas. The last project was the embellishment of the area between Gillieru and the jetty. High time for ugrading to entice tourism there. One should revamp one`s home before boasting about it through advertising outside Malta.
Gordon Farrugia.
A Coppini(2 days, 7 hours ago)Yay! less parking in Sliema!
So if the government has enough magic to sprout up a new car park 'nearby', how about building a car park under this new garden AND another one 'nearby'?
Mary Fisher(2 days, 7 hours ago)But where will all the cars go? Isn't it time to start thinking of multi-storey carparks before we embellify the areas in mind? Car parks are badly needed all over the island and it is about itme this was thought about before ribbons are cut into Disneyland projects. Ministers in charge, PLEASE think of the motorists for a change.
John O Scerri(2 days, 7 hours ago)Parking mmmmm : A NEED IN DANGER OF EXTINCTION.
Can someone ADT or Police revise the reserved yellow parking areas for handycapped and garages. Places like Hamrun, Sliema, are full of them ?
Can it be possible that some persons who used this parking space passed away a long time ago , yet the yellow lines are still there for relatives and wardens to enjoy ?
Is it possible that ALL garages AROUND THE ISLAND HAVING YELLOW LINES have a Police issued sticker stating 'Garage NO PARKING?
Is it possible for employees working in built up areas to have dedicated parking zones instead of occupying residents parking areas eg: St Paul's Bay central area ?
Is it possible for Mepa to ensure that for every building permit submission, especially an office establishment to include adequate parking for full capacity of employees ?
Do we really need wide side walks? They can easily be coverted to part cycle and part pedestrian.
Can Parkers look and dress like proper , licenced , workers who really monitor the safety of ones car and not just offer an outstretched hand before or after one uses the carpark?
Any comments from above are appreciated .
Edwin Mifsud(2 days, 7 hours ago)WELL DONE MEPA!!
This should make up for the Dwejra Mess.
Paul Borg(2 days, 7 hours ago)Well done, another odd 100 car parking spaces gone , where do we park when we need to go to Sleima?
M Borg(2 days, 8 hours ago)Whilst I agree with this project i hope that first the underground car park is completed, THAN the garden is made!
R Marquette(2 days, 8 hours ago)Well done MEPA and Govt!! That's what Sliema needs!! Less parking spaces.
Ibqaw sejrin hekk umghad tafu jekk jizdied il-kummerc ux!!
J. Mifsud(2 days, 4 hours ago)@R Marquette
I think you should read the whole story before complaining!
"The site is currently occupied by parking spaces for 52 cars. The underground car park will be twice as big."
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http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/2009/11/29/t10.html
Sunday, 29 November 2009
Qui-Si-Sana car park plans officially droppedThe controversial plans to construct an underground car park in Qui-Si-Sana, a major cause of disgruntlement among Sliema voters in the area, have been dropped, MaltaToday has learned.
The Ministry for Resources and Rural Afffairs has now applied to MEPA to upgrade the existing garden and play area in Tigné, most of which is presently utilised as a car park.
Plans to upgrade the Qui-Si-Sana garden were announced by minister George Pullicino last month.
The new plans do not include the underground car park proposal and accompanying commercial development that had been envisioned in a 2002 development brief.
The car park proposal dates back to 1999 when a draft brief, which initially excluded major commercial development, was presented for public consultation.
But a development brief issued in 2002 allocated 7,000 square metres of space for “innovative tourist related/leisure development”. Plans subsequently presented by the C&F Contractors included a 24-lane bowling alley, a 120-seat theatre, an exhibition centre, a bar and various other leisure outlets.
In a stormy meeting in February 2006, Sliema’s Nationalist-led local council decided they had no objection to the developers’ latest plans for the contentious Qui-Si-Sana car park, as “long as they conform to the development brief.”
But the motion was fiercely opposed by AD and Labour councillors. The Qui-Si-Sana issue exploded on the eve of the March 2006 local council elections, when a public protest was attended by a large number of residents, mostly Nationalist voters.
“We will express our feelings with a vote,” one of the residents had told MaltaToday. The local elections saw the PN losing 10 percentage points, and Labour and Alternattiva Demokratika increasing their share of the vote as turnout dipped to an all-time low.
A week after the drubbing, the Prime Minister met residents from the Qui-Si-Sana neighbourhood for a two-hour meeting on the contentious car park project, organised by former Sliema mayor and Nationalist MP Robert Arrigo.
The newly elected mayor – Arrigo’s wife Marina – also declared her opposition to any commercial development in the proposed car park. Subsequently, even the developer dropped his plans for commercial development, although the application for the car park was not dropped.
The government also dropped plans for the development for a car park under adjacent Ghar id-Dud promenade, which also included plans for a restaurant instead of the Chalet ruins.
The Qui-Si-Sana car park issue fizzled out from public debate as residents were unofficially informed that the car park plans had been shelved. The issue did not even feature in the last local election which saw the PN regaining lost ground and AD losing its seat on the council.
