Case Studies  A Regeneration Strategy for Valletta. Il-Biccerija Case Study

Infrastructure

Notwithstanding the fact that there are several public offices in it, the infrastructure of the capital, does not reach acceptable levels. It is well known that most services are now outdated and in a very poor state of repair. The most serious problems refer to the mains water supply, since, in most areas the pipes are very old. Thus residents living in the upper apartments of residential blocks do not have the service which they expect. Although power cuts in Valletta are not so common, the way the supply is distributed, leaves much to be desired. Besides the amount of overhead cabling, forming webs of wire across streets and along building facades, when cables are passed underground, little care is taken to preserve the traditional paving. This also applies to the telephone cables. Although in the past years, the Valletta Rehabilitation Project had been trying to co-ordinate such infrastructure, little had been achieved, and the proposal of using the underground tunnels, of which there is a network, had never materialised. The use of such tunnels is not being accepted by the corporations involved, since these are also being used as sewers.

Another problem which is linked to particular localities of Valletta, are the steep and stepped streets. Stepped streets are a burden to disabled people, to the elderly and young children; they also pose problems with regards to vehicle accessibility. The steep streets, especially on the sides and lower parts of Valletta, offer similar disadvantages.

Physical Aspects    3. What has been done up to now?