The Attard Local Council on Monday evening approved a motion put forward to oppose the Central Link project.

The two labour councillors voted against the motion, in favour of the project.

The project includes the construction of a by-pass on what is now agricultural land.

To date the local council had not taken any position on the project although it was present in meetings held by the Attard Residents Environmental Network, who have vehemently opposed the project.

The council appealed to Transport Malta to follow its strategic and master plan and insisted in a modal shift in transport.

The Central Link Project, according to the government, aims to improve the route starting from the Mrieħel bypass in the direction of Birkirkara, Balzan and Attard, through to the Saqqajja hill roundabout, which connects Ta’ Qali, Attard, Rabat, Żebbuġ and Mosta.

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The residents of Attard who form part of ‘Attard Residents Environmental Network’ welcome with satisfaction the position taken by the Attard Local Council with regard to the ‘Central Link Project’ and for immediate action to be taken for a traffic control system in Attard and for the implementation of the Government’s own policies found in the Transport Master Plan 2025.

A.R.E.N. thanked the Attard Local Council for its support in finding a solution to this problem which is worrying the residents, the farmers as well as the owners of commercial establishments.

A.R.E.N. said it appreciated the fact that the Government has made itself available, especially the Honourable Minister Ian Borg, who met with the residents in order to solve this issue which will effect thousands of people. A.R.E.N. had a cordial and positive meeting where it put forward alternatives to the project and were promised by the Minister concerned that such alternatives would be taken into consideration.

A.R.E.N also thanked the Nationalist Party, Alternattiva Demokratika and the Partit Demokratiku for their continous support. A.R.E.N. encouraged the Attard Local Council as well as the Government to continue with further discussions and together consider alternatives which have the least environmental impact.