Valletta City Gate kiosks closed, new set-up by end of year
Triton Fountain kiosk operators will be given the right of first refusal over 10 new stands to be included in the pedestrianisation of the area, Planning Parliamentary Secretary Deborah Schembri said yesterday. Speaking at the entrance to the capital, beside the recently closed kiosks, Dr Schembri said she had been involved in months of negotiations with kiosk operators to find an amicable solution.
The kiosks surrounding the perimeter of the Tritons Fountain just outside City Gate have been closed and a new set-up will be in place by the end of the year, parliamentary secretary for lands Deborah Schembri said yesterday.
The kiosks – selling food items, drinks and other material – closed down on Monday and the owners have until today to remove any property they have from the site.
This removal forms part of an overhaul of City Gate, complementing the rebuilding of the entrance to Valletta carried out a few years ago.
Dr Schembri said that later on this year a call for applications will be issued for anyone interested in having a kiosk in the area. Three will be situated on the Phoenicia Hotel side while another seven will be located on the St James Ditch side.
The design of the new kiosks will be in conformity with the rest of the Triton Fountain project, she said.
The new set-up will be in place by the end of the year, in time for the celebrations and events regarding Valletta as the capital city of culture in Europe in 2018.
Dr Schembri explained that Triton Fountain kiosk operators will be given the right of first refusal, meaning that a bidder is entitled to raise the bid to match the highest offer. She said that some six kiosk operators were operating their kiosk legally, through a rent agreement. The others operating in the area were hawkers or squatters. She said the government worked hard to reach an amicable solution.
The project of the Triton Fountain falls under the responsibility of the Ministry for Transport headed by Joe Mizzi. Deborah Schembri was responsible for the negotiations with the kiosk owners.