From Mr J. R Bowdler

It is only a matter of time before there is a fatal accident, or someone is seriously injured, in Triq-il-Hamrija (Soil Street) Xewkija unless measures are taken to slow down the traffic. For the uninformed, Soil Street is an arterial road and takes traffic the back way into Victoria, Sannat, Munxar and Xlendi. As such, it provides a useful alternative for heavy trucks and cars and is a short cut of the main Mgarr to Victoria road. Although a 50-metre stretch of it is one way, it is sometimes accessed in the wrong direction by those who are strangers to the area. Significantly more dangerous are the actions of those who have been seen speeding in the opposite direction hoping they meet no one on the way. In short, the road has become a noisy and dangerous racetrack and is an accident waiting to happen. Local people know only too well that there is the primary school, playground, bocci court and, for added measure, the gas depot, located on this road. It goes without saying, therefore, that there are always young children, mothers and the elderly crossing this road at all times of the day, and they are at peril.

Having enquired about the possibility of having sleeping policemen, or additional zebra crossings, you can imagine my surprise when the Xewkija Council informed me that not only had the applications been submitted but they were approved by the Gozo Ministry over two years ago to do exactly that. Since then, a big nothing.

I would like to take the opportunity to implore those responsible for releasing funds to do so as a matter of urgency. To have neglected the problem for so long is unacceptable. If I were a cynical individual I might be tempted to think that this tardiness by the government was in someway connected to the fact that Xewkija has a Labour elected council. On the other hand, I can assure the Minister that my vote in the forthcoming elections will not be prejudiced in any way or form.

John R. Bowdler

XEWKIJA