Many Maltese Councillors Resisting Slow Street Project Due To Fear Of Losing Votes, Leading Architect Warns
An architect driving an innovative project to create more pedestrianised areas around Malta has expressed his concern that many councillors are getting cold feet due to fear of losing votes.
Perit Antoine Zammit from Studjurban, the architectural firm driving Slow Streets together with the Local Councils’ Association, told Lovin Malta that this kind of resistance has proven to be the biggest stumbling block to the execution of this project.
“The biggest stumbling block comes from some councillors who stall the project because of their car-centric mentality. They see car deterring or removal from key public spaces as potentially making them unpopular with their constituents and hampering their chances of being re-elected,” Zammit told Lovin Malta.
“This is why Mayors have a critical role in steering LCs in the right direction -unless they too prioritise cars above everything else, of course.”
He added that while some Local Councils have implemented a few interventions aimed at improving pedestrian safety, others are still waiting for funding to implement proposed interventions, while others have used the Slow Streets strategies as a means of furthering certain projects.
Besides the “car-centric” mentality of some councillors, other obstacles include the availability of funding for these projects and the view expressed by some councils that slow streets will cause permanent, rather than temporary, changes to the landscape.
Additionally, the turnover of key personnel, such as mayors who initially support the project, can create continuity issues.
A plan to pedestrianise Gżira as part of the 'Slow Streets' proposal
The implementation of Slow Streets interventions varies across different Local Councils. Some have already implemented pedestrian safety improvements while others are still waiting for funding.
Mosta has implemented some traffic management and pedestrianisation, and Mellieħa has identified key interventions to be implemented whilst three localities – Birgu, Safi and Mosta – have hosted public discussions regarding traffic management and square design.
Zammit continued to explain that Mayors play a crucial role in guiding Local Councils towards more progressive policies.
“Mayors can make or break a project”
He also stressed how it is important to avoid overly fragmenting the implementation process and to consider other funding opportunities, such as Project Green and street upgrades by Infrastructure Malta for a more holistic approach.
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