The Tourism and Culture Ministry is once again prohibiting road and trenching work by government departments and entities in tourist areas, and has set times for construction work on private sector projects during the months of July, August and September.

In 2001, the ministry, the Building Industry Consultative Committee (BICC), the General Retailers and Traders Union (GRTU) and the Federation of the Building and Civil Engineering Contractors (FOBC) agreed on measures designed to minimise noise and disturbance in tourist areas during the high season.

Contractors have been supplied with maps that indicate where building work can be undertaken, subject to agreed conditions, in Malta and Gozo’s main tourist areas during the summer months.

From 1 July until the end of September, construction work may be performed subject to the following conditions, as agreed by the parties mentioned above:

Construction work will not commence before 8am;

Construction work will be suspended between 2pm and 3.30pm;

No demolition work will be carried out during the months of July, August and September, and

No excavation and rock cutting work will be carried out during the months of July, August and September. However, the ripping and loading of already excavated material is permitted.