grtu.eu - Palace Square and Freedom Square Valletta

GRTU insists that Piazza San Gorg (Palace Square), Piazza Helsien and the streets in close proximity to the centre of Valletta should remain open for parking and available on charge without any privileges whatsoever.

In a strongly worded letter to Minister Austin Gatt, GRTU Director General Vince Farrugia describes these two squares as the lungs of the Valletta Commercial Centre. GRTU insists that these squares should remain available for parking on all days until such time as government builds underground parking spaces under these squares. For as long as underground parking is not available these squares should remain available for parking and all functions in these squares are reduced to the barest minimum essential.

(Please find below GRTU’s message to Minister Austin Gatt. The Media may quote in full or in part from this letter)

Ghall-darba ohra nirringrazzjawk ta’ l-opportunita’ li taghtina biex nikkummentaw fuq il-proposti li jolqtu lill-imsiehba taghna fil-Belt Valletta.

Ninfurmak li l-GRTU tqies Pjazza San Gorg u l-parti ta’ fuq ta’ Triq ir-Republika flimkien mat-toroq li jghatu ghaliha bhala pulmun tac-centru kummercjali tal-Belt. It-tieni pulmun hi Pjazza Helsien u l-ispazji tal-madwar.

Il-GRTU ghalhekk topponi ghall-isforzi kollha li jsiru biex jitnaqqas l-uzu ghall-parking f’dawn iz-zoni hi x’inhi r-raguni. Ghandu jsir kull sforz, in fatti, biex ikunu minimizzati ghall-ahhar l-okkazjonijiet li jimblukkaw dawn iz-zoni ghall-uzu ta’ parking. Huma wisq l-granet mitlufa u hafna okkazjonijiet jistghu jsiru ximkien iehor ghax m’huma ta’ l-ebda vantagg ghall-Belt.

Idejalment dawn l-Pjazzez ghandhom ikunu pavimentati u offruti biss ghall-uzu pedonali u rikreazjoni u l-GRTU zgur li tikkopera fuq programm mghaggel u mhaddem sewwa u f’waqtu biex isir l-pavimentar.Imma l-pavimentar m’ghandux ikun skuza biex jinqata’ l-parking. Dan isir biss jekk l-Gvern isib mezz kif l-parking isir underground. Sakemm l-parking underground f’dawn l-Pjazzez jibqa’ fuq l-karta, l-parking m’ghandux jitnehha. Il-Park and Ride mhux alternattiva ghall-parking f’dawn l-Pjazzez.Il-Park and RideIl-parking f’dawn l-pjazzez jaghtu nifs lic-centru Il-pulmuni ma jistghux ma jibqghux integrali ghall-gisem. hi alternattiva ghal min irid jidhol fil-Belt bla hlas. Ghal min irid ihallas dawn l-pjazzez u t-toroq u spazji tal-madwar huma prioritarji.

Il-GRTU trid ukoll li l-parking kollu fi Pjazza San Gorg u fi Pjazza Helsien u fit-toroq qrib ikunu kollha bil-hlas ghall-kullhadd fil-hinijiet kollha li tiffunzjona c-CVA. Hadd, hu min hu, la residenti, la sidien tal-ebda negozju u tal-ebda monti, la ufficjali tal-Gvern u lanqas membri tal-Parlament, m’ghandhom ikunu ezenti. Min il-Gvern ihoss li ghandu jkun ezenti (per ezempju Membri tal-Parlament) l-istituzzjoni responsabbli ghalihom ghandha thallsilhom l- parking vouchers jew tohrogilhom parking allowanceIzda ma tinhareg l-ebda forma ta sussidju ghall-ebda negozju u ghall- ebda monti u lanqas ghar-residenti. mill-budget, tal-istess istituzzjoni.

Il-parking fi Pjazza San Gorg u fi Pjazza Helsien, fil-parti ta’ fuq ta Triq ir-Republika u fit-toroq li jghatu ghall dawn l-Pjazez jew fil-vicin, ikunu kollha disponibbli bla riservi u kollha bil-hlas. Anki tal-karozzini jridu jinqalghu. (Jistghu jitpoggew ghad-dell (sitta biss) fi Triq it-Tezor fi Pjazza Regina hdejn il-Palazz).Il-parking f’dawn l-pjazzez u l-madwar hu parking li jrid ikun disponibbli ghall min irid jidhol jinqeda bis-servizzi kollha tal-Belt Valletta. Ir-residenti ghandhom l-kumplament tal- Belt u dawn iz-zoni ghandhom jithallew liberi ghall-users tal-Belt Valletta u bi hlas. Min irid privilegg isib min ihallaslu ghalih imma mhux il-Gvern taht l-ebda ftehiem. Bla Pjazza, San Gorg u bla Pjazza Helsien disponibbli ghall-Parking ir-ruh kummercjali tal-Belt Valletta tmut.

Infakkrek ukoll illi sal-lum ic-CVA ma gabietx rizultati pozittivi lil kummerc tal-Belt u kull sforz biex tkompli titgharraq is-sitwazzjoni ghandha tkun resistitha. Napplikalek biex tizgura li tieqaf l-attitudni li s-sidien tan-negozji u tas-servizzi li jipprovdu l-Belt ikunu stmati tat-tielet klassi wara r-residenti u wara tal-monti. Ahna napprezzaw hafna l-impenn tieghek, bhal ma hu taghna, li l-Belt Valletta verament ngholluha ghal livell li jixirqilha imma mhux dejjem a skapitu tan-negozjant u s-service provider li jinvesti u jahdem biex izomm l-Belt hajja. Dawn huma n-nies li l-fiducja taghhom fil- Belt juruha bl-aktar mod effettiv: billi jpoggu flushom u hilithom fl-investiment.

Il-GRTU tibqa’, sa ma tkun klarifikata din l-kwistjoni ta parking privileggat fil-pjazez u z-zoni li jsostnu c-Centru Kummercjali, izomm lura mill-progett tas-CVA. Fis-sitwazzjoni li inholqot bis-CVA kif qeghed tithaddem illum u sakemm tibqa’ hekk, ghall- GRTU ic-CVA tibqa skema ta hsara lin-negozju ghax il-vantaggi pprogettatii ma jirrizultawx.