We, the residents of Fleur-de-Lys Junction, Triq L-Istampaturi, Triq il-Mastrudaxxi, Triq il-Hajjata and Triq il-Bir in Santa Venera, face daily restrictions in accessing our homes during the school drop-off and pick-up times (8:00am - 8:45am / 1:45pm - 2:45pm). As of this year, this problem has been compounded by the fact that the same block now houses two schools, not one, thereby increasing the volume of students and transport.

Monday to Friday, access from Psaila Street to Fleur-de-Lys Junction is closed during these time windows to ensure safety for the children entering and leaving school. Whilst we fully understand and agree with the need for strict safety protocols, this shouldn’t result in us being denied access to our homes.

During the 2024-2025 scholastic year, as well as summer school 2025, TM officials were positioned at key points with a walkie-talkie system to guide us “wrong-way” access from the end of Fleur-de-Lys Junction. This was a compromise that successfully honored both child safety and residents' needs.  The system was not perfect, as it allowed all vehicles to drive through rather than just the residents. Nevertheless, it served its purpose and gave us the possibility to reach our homes.

Unfortunately, this service was abruptly stopped. To add insult to injury, the time-windows are seemingly dependent on the officials on site. During the first week of the current scholastic year, we were even denied access before 8am and well after 2:45pm—extensions imposed at the sole discretion of on-site authorities and due to coach drivers arriving late.

We demand a reinstatement of the previous system which allowed safe passage to residents only while maintaining the security of the school children, or better yet, an introduction of a new system with similar capabilities. Viable options to ensure both safety and resident access include:

1. Restricting the closure window to a realistic 10 or 15 minutes, instead of one full hour.
2. Allowing residents through upon presentation of their ID cards.
3. Adding a zebra crossing near the school entrance to manage pedestrian flow
4. Adding more metal railings along the pavement to control the designated crossing points for students and parents
5. Strictly enforce a zero-tolerance policy against illegal parking, loitering, double-parking, and the obstruction of garages, which are major contributors to the current problems.

Both the school community and the residents deserve equal consideration. We are not asking to disregard safety measures; rather, we seek a reasonable solution that serves everyone.

Join us in urging local authorities to implement an effective solution promptly. Please sign this petition to make our voices heard and bring positive change.