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9 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • NOVEMBER 2022 KURT SANSONE REVAMPED plans for the Msida Creek flyover project still do not prioritise walking, cycling and the general public, according to 11 environmental organisations. "While the new plans present an aesthetic improvement, or- ganisations and experts in the field are frustrated to note how this multi-million major infra- structural project is yet again failing to cater for the social and functional character of Msida, beyond being a junction for car traffic," the organisa- tions said. New plans for the project were published by Infrastruc- ture Malta last week, following an outcry when the original plans to construct two flyovers in Msida's main square were unveiled. The new design includes just one flyover that will elevate traffic to and from Region- al Road thus eliminating the lights near the Labour Party club, a large public square in front of the church, and a sea water canal to cater for flood waters. The designs show a greener area but still prioritises cars in this main crossroads. The groups said Msida Creek is first and foremost the social and cultural centre of the town, but also an important pedes- trian intersection for the local community, members of the educational institutions in the vicinity, and users of the public transport network. The groups said the current proposal lacks safe and effi- cient connections for anyone not inside a car between Msi- da and the University and the skate park, as well as between Msida and Birkirkara. The plans also lack dedicated bus lanes and lumps pedestrians and cyclists together in what will undoubtedly be congested paths, and has a complete ab- sence of specially designated bike lanes. "We also note how, accord- ing to the renders, the fishing community of Msida will be relocated into the narrow ca- nals. Apart from our general scepticism towards the up- keep of these canals, this move seemingly gives way to an ex- tension of the yacht marina in- to the heart of Msida, yet again sending the message that big business is given priority over community texture," they said. The groups welcomed IM's willingness to revise the origi- nal plans, which now incorpo- rate some of the public's initial concerns. "We therefore expect that they will again consider further improvements to give the area the long-term vision it deserves," they added. The press statement was en- dorsed by Moviment Graffitti, Friends of the Earth Malta, Din l-Art Ħelwa, The Archaeolog- ical Society Malta, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Nature Trust - FEE Malta, BirdLife Malta, Rota, Extinction Rebel- lion Malta, ACT and Ramblers Malta. MARIANNA CALLEJA STUDENTS at the Univer- sity of Malta are up in arms over the higher prices being charged for parking facilities by the private operator run- ning the Campus Hub build- ing. Several student organisations have joined forces and will be protesting the recent price in- creases on Friday. The protest dubbed 'Students over Profit' is targeted against the private operator of the new student accommodation facilities. Students at the University of Malta have long complained about the lack of parking spac- es on campus so when Campus Hub, a brand-new building that houses student housing and a wide variety of retail and food establishments, provided 500 new car park spaces for students, it looked like manna from heaven. Campus Residence Malta Ltd had been collecting a fixed fee of €2 up until this morning when new rates were intro- duced. These fees have essen- tially more than tripled the price that university students who attend a full day of lec- tures must pay. On Monday KSU also con- demned this decision and ac- cused Campus Hub manage- ment of abusing the parking situation. Campus Residence Malta Ltd brings together the Vassallo Group, the University of Mal- ta and the Malta University Holding Company Ltd, which manages the university's com- mercial assets. This year, KSU started run- ning an effective, carpooling system through the myKSU App and KSU Website. ob- served a steady increase in the number of students choosing to carpool which resulted in 300 cars not entering universi- ty in the past three weeks. The council also said that it was in talks with the Trans- port Ministry to strengthen connections between the uni- versity's public transporta- tion system and the campus including the designing of a park-and-ride system centred on the university. A 26-year-old Spanish man was arrested on Tuesday after- noon, hours after running over an octogenarian in Luqa and driving off. The 85-year-old hit-and- run victim sustained serious injuries after being run over in Triq Censu Decandia in Luqa. Two parked cars, a Dai- hatsu Terios and a Mazda De- mio, were also severely dam- aged in the incident. Police said that they traced the Spaniard's car, a Nissan, on Triq il-Kunsill tal-Ew- ropa, in Luqa and arrested its driver. Magistrate Donatella Fren- do Dimech is leading! an in- quiry into the incident. Revamped Msida Creek not enough as groups call for more changes Several environmental organisations are calling on Infrastructure Malta to go back to the drawing board yet again on the Msida Creek project Hit-and- run driver arrested hours after seriously injuring elderly man Students' protest planned over exorbitant Campus Hub car park prices Campus Residence Malta Ltd brings together the Vassallo Group, the University of Malta and the Malta University Holding Company Ltd, which manages the university's commercial assets

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