Mqabba mayor Charlene Zammit told this newsroom yesterday that the Mqabba field that was full of rubbish, leading to a rat infestation that had caused considerable inconvenience to nearby residents, was cleaned up yesterday.

This newsroom originally ran a story when residents complained about the situation which was getting out of hand.

The field, on Monsignor A. Caruana Street, is owned by a private individual. But the authorities – including the police, the Lands Department and Mepa – had been unable to identify the owner. As a result, the mayor said, the council had unanimously voted to take matters into its own hands and, under police supervision, the site had been cleared.

She said that the council knew the risk of entering and clearing a field that was privately owned but said that she did not want residents having to put up with living in those conditions.

As for reactions from the residents, the mayor said that some of them were grateful, while others were saying that it was about time something was done about the situation. She once again reiterated that the council had not been able to take any action earlier precisely because the field is privately owned. It had been neglected for a number of years.

A skip has been placed on the side of the field, a fence is being erected along the perimeter of the property and cameras will be installed within a fortnight, said the mayor. Mons. A. Caruana Street is already tarmacked but, in November, tarmac will be laid along George Martin Road, she added, which lies around the corner.

(Video uploaded on The Malta Indepedent website some weeks ago)

The work has cost the council around €2,000.