In a press conference in St Paul’s Bay, Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party said that its elected candidates in the forthcoming local council elections will work to have more accessible public spaces.
Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said: “It is ironic that whilst egoistic lobbies such as the squatters in Armier and hunters and trappers occupy public land, public spaces in various localities are either lacking or inadequate. Whilst we acknowledge that some public spaces have been improved, this is definitely not the case in others. The election of green councillors in the forthcoming local elections will mean that accessible public space will be given priority. Green councillors will also make sure that public land is truly accessible to everyone and not to specific lobbies or business interests”.
Simon Galea, AD local council candidate for St Paul’s Bay, said: “It is important to make best use of the restricted number of open spaces. The project being undertaken by St.Paul’s Bay Local Council in conjunction with Thalasselejn Bocci Club is an example of proper utilisation of such a limited resource. An area previously serving as a playground is presently being dug up in order to make way for both an indoor semi basement bocci pitch plus a play area at street level. Such initiatives deserve to be commended and should be extended to other open spaces. Public land presently serving as parking areas once redeveloped can provide a recreational area at street level plus other facilities underground such as parking and water reservoirs intended to serve as rain water catchment areas.”
“While recognising the need of developing such open spaces it is also important to properly maintain. Unfortunately upkeep and maintainance need addressing. Factors contributing to the poor state of some open areas include both negligence and vandalism. Resources invested in such open spaces should be better protected against vandalism through installation of cctv cameras.’ concluded Simon Galea.
Andre Vella, AD spokesperson for Community Development and Youth and local council candidate for Balzan, said: “Considering the problem of overdevelopment in Malta, open spaces become even more important for our communities. Open spaces can serve as a mitigation effort against flooding and provide the opportunity for respite and recreation, leading to an improved quality of life for the people. Moreover we saw the recent anti-smoking laws being enforced in playing fields by local wardens. This is a positive measure to ensure a safe environment for children free from passive smoking. “
“Spazji pubblici miftuha ghandhom jizdiedu” – AD
Waqt konferenza stampa f’San Pawl il-Bahar, l-Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party qalet li l-kandidati taghha li jigu eletti fl-elezzjonijiet tal-kunsilli lokali li jmiss, ser jahdmu biex spazji pubblici ikunu aktar milhuqa min-nies.
Michael Briguglio, ic-Chairperson tal-AD, qal: “Hija ironika li waqt li certi gruppi egoisti bhal dawk li ghandhom il-kmamar fl-Armier jew il-kaccaturi u n-nassaba jokkupaw art pubblici, spazji miftuha f’diversi lokalitajiet jew ma jezistux jew mhumiex f’kundizzjoni tajba. Filwaqt li naghrfu li certi spazji pubblici tjiebu, dan zgur mhux dejjem il-kaz. Li jigi eletti kunsilliera hodor fl-elezzjonijiet lokali li gejjin, ikun ifisser li spazji pubblici accessibbli jinghataw priorita. Kunsilliera hodor jaraw ukoll li art pubblika hija milhuqa mill-pubbliku kollu u mhux minn dawk li ghandhom delizzji partikulari jew interessi kummercjali.”
Simon Galea, il-kandidat tal-AD ghall-kunsill lokali ta’ San Pawl il-Bahar, qal: “Huwa importanti li l-ftit spazji miftuha li ghandna jintuzaw bil-ghaqal. Il-Progett li ghaddej bhalissa bejn il-kunsill lokali ta’ San Pawl u l-kazin tal-Bocci Thalasselejn huwa ezempju ta’ uzu tajjeb ta’ rizorsi limitati. Bicca art li qabel kienet isservi bhala playground qed tigi mhaffra biex ikun hemm spazju kemm ghal kazin tal-bocci taht il-livell tat-triq kif ukoll ghal spazju fejn jilaghbu t-tfal fuq il-livell tat-triq. Inizjattivi bhal dawn haqqhom prosit u ghandhom ikunu estizi ghal spazji miftuha ohra. Art pubblika li bhalissa qed tintuza ghall-parkegg tista’ tkun zviluppata mill-gdid biex tkun tista sservi ghal rikreazzjoni fuq il-livell tat-triq filwaqt li taht l-art jistghu jinbnew xi facilitajiet ohra biex jintuzaw ghall-parkegg jew bhala gibjuni ghall-ilma”
“Filwaqt li ngharfu l-importanza li jigu zviluppati dawn l-ispazji miftuha, huwa daqstant importanti li jinzammu f’kundizzjoni tajba. Sfortunatament mhux qed tinghata bizzejjed importanza liz-zamma ta’ dawn l-ispazji. L-abbandun u l-vandalizmu huma fost il-fatturi li jikkontribwixxu ghall-istat hazin ta’ certi spazji miftuha. L-investiment li jsir fi spazji bhal dawn ghandu jkun imhares ahjar mill-vandalizmu billi jigu stallati cctv cameras” ikkonkluda Simon Galea.
Andre` Vella, il-kelliem tal-AD ghall-Izvilupp fil-Komunita u z-Zghazagh u kandidat ghall-kunsill lokali ta’ Hal Balzan, qal: “Meta wiehed iqis il-problema tal-izvilupp sfrenat li ghandna Malta, l-importana tal-ispazji miftuha issir aktar importanti fil-komunitajiet taghna. Spazji miftuha jistghu iservu bhala soluzzjoni biex jittaffa l-gharghar u fl-istess hin iservu bhala mezz ta’ mistrieh u rikreazzjoni. Dan iwassal ghal titjib fil-kwalita’ tal-hajja tan-nies tal-lokal. Barra minn hekk ghadna kif smajna li l-ligi ta’ kontra t-tipjip ser tigi infurzata mill-gwardjani lokali fil-postijiet fejn jilaghbu t-tfal. Din hija mizura pozittiva biex jigi zgurat ambjent san ghat-tfal, hieles mit-tipjip passiv”.
