The 5,000 signatures attained in petition against the construction of a car park and an overlying public space is ‘premature’ according to Labour Party minority Mosta local council leader Alex Muscat, who is also the deputy chief of staff within the Office of the Prime Minister.

The project aims to create some 350 new parking spaces. The existing ground level car park at the side of the church would be turned into an open space.

Speaking yesterday to The Malta Independent, Mr Muscat insisted that the petition is premature since no concrete proposal has been confirmed due to the fact that the tender released by Projects Malta is still accepting submissions. He went further to say that whilst the proposal is currently earmarked for the area by the rotunda, there is still a possibility that they could look to construct the car park in a different part of the locality.

He also pointed to a lack of information amongst the community regarding the details of the project as being the reason behind the petition.

This newsroom also contacted Mosta Mayor Edwin Vassallo, who echoed these sentiments and insisted that if the project should have any negative effects on the Mosta rotunda the project would be abandoned immediately.

This, Mr Vassallo said, was outlined in the tender released by Projects Malta which reads that “The Construction Management Plan has to take into consideration the very sensitive location of the sites both historically (Mosta Dome) and socially (Mosta Health Centre)” and should the proposed project not meet the contracted standards and obligations then the council reserves the right to “terminate the Concession at any point in time”.

Mr Vassallo stressed that project would be done with the consultation of the Archdiocese of Malta, since the technical board, which will analyse any submissions related to a planned underground car park in Mosta, will include a representative from the organization.

Projects Malta has appointed architect Adrian Mifsud, a geotechnical engineer, to represent the government on the board. The Archdiocese has appointed Mr Ray Bonnici, Curia Property Manager, to represent it.

Both men emphasized that ultimately it is the Local Council’s vision to solve Mosta’s long-standing parking problem whilst also providing the area with more open public spaces for the locality.