Infrastructure Malta on Monday went ahead with works to build a road in an outside development zone in Dingli, much to the chagrin of residents, farmers and activists who descended once more on the street to try and stop the works.

The agency stopped works soon after they started in October 2020 after protests by Moviment Graffitti and residents of the area.

“During the last few months, IM held talks with the Planning Authority, the Environment and Resources Authority and the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage to go through the plans and method statements of this road and ensure that they are implemented with the least possible adverse impacts on the area’s environment. It also continued talks with the owners of adjacent lands to discuss and conclude applicable expropriation terms,” Infrastructure Malta said in a statement.

Residents and activists, much like last October, returned to the site to protest the works.

The works commenced again after the Environment and Planning Tribunal turned down an appeal against the uprooting of three trees – including a carob tree which is hundreds of years old – on the basis that the appellants did not have a juridical interest in making such an appeal.

In a separate submission following a site inspection, the enforcement and environment protection officers of the ERA denied allegations that Infrastructure Malta had uprooted trees illegally when works started in October. 

On their part, Moviment Graffitti activists shared pictures from the venue of the works as they went there to stop what was happening.

“These are the scenes from Infrastructure’s Malta environmental destruction in Dingli this morning. By the time we reached the site, Infrastructure Malta had already destroyed fields in ODZ and started dismembering carob trees, to pass a road for which they have no permit and which leads to nowhere”, Moviment Graffitti said.

“The Planning Authority also confirmed to the Tribunal that, in line with applicable regulations, there was no obligation for Infrastructure Malta to notify the Authority about its works in Dingli since the new street between Dahla tas-Sienja Street, San Gwann Bosco Street and Il-Museum Alley is schemed as per the Local Plan”, the agency said in a statement. 

They claimed that residents in Il-MUSEUM Alley and other nearby areas in Dingli “have long been calling for the formation of this schemed street to improve connectivity and to create a safer access to numerous residences, some of which are currently only accessible through a narrow lane that does not permit firefighting and other emergency vehicles to reach their homes.” 

“In a recent communication to Infrastructure Malta, the Civil Protection Department denied the allegation that it had told a local organisation there was no need to improve accessibility to emergency vehicles in this area”, they said. 

Infrastructure Malta said that it is consulting the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage to make sure that a centuries-old abandoned building a short distance away from the new street’s alignment, which is believed to be the remains of a medieval chapel, is not adversely impacted by the required works. The construction of the new street does not necessitate the demolition or alteration of any parts of these historical remains. An archaeologist approved by the Superintendence will be monitoring all road works near this historical structure, to make sure it is adequately protected. 

Infrastructure Malta said that it is planning to complete this new street in the next few months.