The environment ministry yesterday welcomed a judgement by a Gozo court turning down a request by Xewkija local council for a warrant of prohibitory injunction to stop work on the construction of a civic amenity site at Tal-Kus.

The site would in a few months’ time give Gozitans a service which in Malta was doing well.

The construction work was stopped just hours after it started, three weeks ago, when Xewkija council presented its case in court though the project was covered by all the necessary permits. The court, the ministry said, yesterday criticised the council for presenting a request for a warrant of prohibitory injunction that was almost identical to another which had already been rejected by the court.

The ministry added this was not the first time that councils with a Labour majority had sought to interfere so as to oppose projects intended to improve the country’s environment. These included the Sant’Antnin recycling plant at Marsascala, and recently the rehabilitation of Tal-Qortin dump in Gozo.

This civic amenity site would be the first in Gozo apart from the three already operating in Malta, at Hal Far, Mriehel, and Maghtab. A fourth was planned at Luqa, which would be ready in a few months’ time.