AD highlights Attard’s urban environment challenges

Alternattiva Demokratika yesterday highlighted the several urban environmental challenges being faced by the locality of Attard, with chairperson Carmel Cacopardo commenting that “Attard is choked with traffic and unbridled construction”.

The problems in urban areas are a big challenge to the quality of life of residents. The impacts of the rationalization scheme approved in 2006 are being felt today.

The 2006 decision means that massive development is going on in several parts of Attard. This is leading to low rise houses in whole streets being demolished, turning Attard into a concrete jungle. The massive increase in building density is also leading to a large increase in cars in a small area and consequently an increase in traffic and the degradation of air quality.

AD said it was “patently obvious that there is an urgent need to develop and encourage alternative transport facilities.

“In the past week Alternattiva Demokratika submitted its views during the public consultation exercise for the cycling strategy. We highlighted the need to improve the infrastructure for cycling. Despite initiatives in Attard by AD’s councillor, cycling infrastructure is still sorely lacking in our country. Transport Malta is not keen or helpful when it comes to this kind of transport.”

Attard is situated in an area of Malta in which travel from one locality to another on foot or by bicycle is rather easy. This is not only good for one’s health but also re- duces the number of cars from our roads. The National Transport Strategy approved in 2016 puts as a major goal the reduction of short car journeys of less than 15 minutes. These journeys account for about 50 per cent of car journeys on our roads. It is these short journeys that should be tackled and reduced with targeted public investment in people friendly streets and infrastructure for alternative means of transport.

AD called for a discussion on the use of roads. “We insist that especially on residential roads and the narrow streets of our towns and villages, people should be given absolute priority over cars. This can be done in several ways, including by reducing the maximum speed in residential areas to 30 kilometres per hour, as well as investment in widespread infrastructure to encourage the use of bicycles by commuters.

Attard is one of the locations in which AD was almost always present with a councillor elected since the establishment of the local councils 25 years ago. Ralph Cassar, Secretary General of AD, has been a councillor in Attard for over 15 years and has worked with councillors from other parties to take a number of initiatives that have contributed to improving the quality of life in the locality. Cassar has worked for the planting of more trees in urban areas, for a new public library and the restoration of historic sites, for new bike racks, as well as initiatives on waste recycling, as well as promoting waste reduction and reuse.