On a visit to the Sta Lucija sports facilities yesterday, Labour leader Alfred Sant praised the Labour-led local council for being responsible for the football ground and for supporting the local football nursery, which is attended by about 80 children. The council keeps the football pitch clean and offers transport to all the children who attend, as well as offering the use of its annex for the nursery meetings.

The council is at present creating a picnic area: a drip irrigation system has been installed, and the fencing of the area has been continued. It is now proposing to build a kiosk in the picnic area to generate more activity.

Another project on which the council is working is the creation of a sculpture garden, linking the jogging track and the Chinese garden.

Labour proposes that a Labour-led council will plan a road-resurfacing programme according to the funds it is given by central government.

Meanwhile, visiting nearby Paola, Dr Sant praised the Labour-led local council for its partnership with Hibernians FC in the Lm60,000 synthetic turf programme for three five-a-side football pitches. He also paid a visit to the Corradino naval prison that is being restored by Hibernians.