I am writing this letter in reply to Joanna Saliba Bowman’s letter entitled “The Marsaxlokk local council” (TMIS, 9 July).

Ms Bowman wished to know why the council is delaying the completion of work in Tas-Silg Road, although in her letter she already seems to know the reason for the delay. What she possibly does not know is who is responsible for it. As mentioned in her letter, the council encountered problems while work was in progress in this street due to electricity poles that had to be shifted because they did not conform to the approved road alignment. This required the installation of new electricity poles by Enemalta Corporation and the transfer of Maltacom, Melita Cable and Enemalta cables from the old poles to the new ones. The longest delay was caused by the installation of the new poles. Enemalta had initially requested the council to pay Lm1,400 for removing these poles and installing new ones, notwithstanding that the council had not been responsible for the incorrect installation of the poles in the first place. Eventually Enemalta accepted to shift the poles at its expense, but another problem arose because there was a shortage of poles. The council cannot be held responsible for this. Now that all cables have finally been shifted off the old poles, all that is required is for Enemalta to remove these poles in order to permit the council’s contractor to carry on with the road works.

I totally understand the inconvenience the residents have had to put up with. One must however accept that the council does not have control over all eventualities. The council took the necessary steps by exerting pressure on Enemalta by means of a correspondence, telephone calls and meetings, as well as through a clip in Konfini on Super 1 TV.

With regard to the change in traffic direction in Melqart Street and Axtart Street, it also seems that Ms Saliba Bowman has recognised part of the reason for this change when she mentions “the residents of this road (Melqart Street) complained about car exhaust”. As is common knowledge, most vehicles emit exhaust fumes from the right hand side of the vehicle (to avoid the fumes being emitted onto pedestrians on the pavement). Therefore, the council considered that it would be better for traffic to go up Axtart Street so that the exhaust fumes would disperse into the valley and not into the doors and windows of residents in Melqart Street. Furthermore, since Axtart Street is not as steep as Melqart Street, there is less likelihood that loaded vehicles will spill concrete and other material on the road. It is a fact that the road surface in Axtart Street is in a bad state, but this road, as well as Melqart Street and Bir Rikka Street, are the responsibility of the central government as they are classified as arterial roads because they lead to the Delimara Power Station. As a matter of fact, the council has long been asking for these roads to be resurfaced.

I would like to urge Ms Saliba Bowman that, while she understandably complains about her problem, which will most likely be resolved during the tenure of the second Labour Local Council of Marsaxlokk, she also follows what is going on in the rest of the village before coming to such a conclusion, as appeared in her opening sentence. For this purpose I would like to give a brief summary of work carried out in the past two years; surfacing of the old part of Marsaxlokk Road that leads to Zejtun; reconstruction and resurfacing of Xprunara Street; various new pavements in part of Zejtun Road, part of Axtart Street and part of Trunciera Road (next to the football ground); new pavement in Dun Salv Gatt Street; new pavement and extended patching with hot tarmac in Kajjik Street; resurfacing of part of Wilga Street and part of the parking area close to the playground; construction of stairs from the football ground to Port Ruman; new decorative streetlights in Church Square. All this work was carried out over and above other routine maintenance works, a sizeable investment in the local Public Library and the organising of various activities.

Very soon works will be completed in Tas-Silg Road and Abdosir Street and a call for tenders has been issued for the reconstruction of the public garden in the Housing Estate (we waited for a year for the necessary MEPA permit).

Finally, I would like to thank Ms Saliba Bowman for showing her interest with her questions.

Edric Micallef

Mayor

MARSAXLOKK