NGO Moviment Graffitti and a group of farmers have taken to Dingli in an attempt to stop the building of a new road which would take up private farmland in the village.
Moviment Graffitti have said that Infrastructure Malta are building the road “without any permits whatsoever.”
“This government agency is bullying residents and farmers once again and is doing so illegally”, the NGO said.
The land is in Daħla tas-Sienja in Dingli. A search on the Planning Authority's geoserver shows no planning applications for roadworks in this particular road or on the adjoining fields.
Residents speaking to police on site said that they know that they cannot stop the government from taking their land if it wants, but said that all they want is a meeting with the government for an agreement to be reached on the land.
“If the government wants to take it, they have the ability to take it – but at least we should be compensated for it”, one resident was filmed saying.
The same residents questioned what the point is behind knocking down the rubble wall and taking up farmland for a road, and asked whether someone particular had bought property over there and now needed a road for an upcoming planning permit.
They questioned the secrecy behind the building of this road, with one resident jokingly suggesting that the street should be renamed as “Triq il Misteri” (Street of Mysteries).
Farmers were filming telling activists that nobody had notified them that there were plans for a road to cut through their land.
In reply, Infrastructure Malta said it is launching the construction of a schemed street connecting Dahla tas-Sienja, Triq San Gwann Bosco and Sqaq il-Museum, in Dingli.
Infrastructure Malta said that residents in Sqaq il-MUSEUM and other nearby areas in Dingli have long been calling for the formation and construction of this schemed road to improve connectivity and to create a safer access to numerous residences, which are currently only accessible through a narrow lane that does not permit firefighting and other emergency vehicles to reach their homes.
"The narrow section of Sqaq il-MUSEUM is located within Dingli’s urban conservation area, with old buildings on either side and cannot be widened. The only way this street can have a safer access is through the opening of the new street connecting it with Dahla tas-Sienja Street and San Gwann Bosco."
The agency said that as per applicable regulations, no development permits are required for the formation of new roads within development zones that are already included as schemed (planned) roads in the Planning Authority’s local plans, as is the case for the new street between Dahla tas-Sienja and Sqaq il-MUSEUM.
"This street, which is approximately 100 metres long, has been schemed to be formed years ago and should have already been built. Owners of land in the area have known about the formation of this road on their lands for many years", they said.
Infrastructure Malta said that it has taken note of the concerns of the area’s residents, including public safety risks due to the restricted access for emergency vehicles, and started talks with the owners and tenants the private and government lands in question, to facilitate the formation of the new street, which will provide improved access to these landowners as well.
"Works are starting in the section of the new street that will be built on government land and will proceed to other areas in the coming months. Eventually, to complete the formation of the road, three trees need to be uprooted or transplanted. They will be replaced with the planting of several other new trees, as per applicable regulations for such requirements", the statement concludes.
Photos: Moviment Graffitti