Infrastructure Malta has called allegations that it is planning to build across farmland in Burmarrad as an "outright lie", saying that it has never had any plans for a new bypass in the locality.

The agency was reacting to claims by independent candidate Arnold Cassola on Wednesday, who said that Infrastructure Malta is planning “another Central Link” over farmland in Burmarrad after the 2022 general election is over.

The agency stated that since its establishment in 2018, "it has never considered, designed or planned any new bypass road in Burmarrad and its surroundings, as alleged in Prof. Cassola’s statement."

"The alleged road as described by Prof. Cassola does not feature in the area’s current local plan and no request or proposal for its planning or construction has ever been presented to Infrastructure Malta. Any allegation to the contrary is an outright lie," Infrastructure Malta said. 

Infrastructure Malta also reiterated that the road as described by Cassola is not sustainable from a traffic management and an environmental point of view.

"Had it actually been proposed to the agency, it would have turned it down outright," the agency said of the plans.

Following media questions about Cassola’s statement, Infrastructure Malta said it had researched past plans and identified a 1988 plan for Burmarrad in which a road similar to the one described was being considered by previous administrations. The indicated road did not subsequently feature in the 2006 North West Local Plan, confirming that this proposal dating back 33 years was dropped over a decade ago (pictured below).

"Cassola is basing his unfounded allegations on a 1988 proposal which never got off the ground," the agency said.

Cassola said in a statement that a whistleblower from inside the roads agency had revealed the plans which Infrastructure Malta CEO Frederick Azzopardi has in mind for Burmarrad for after the general election on 26 March.

He said that Infrastructure Malta are proposing a new road “starting from the Erba' Mwiezeb roundabout, going all the way behind Kiabi complex, and ending at Burmarrad football ground, next to Piscopo Gardens.”

“Basically, this is another Central Link screw up in miniature,” the independent candidate said.

Cassola said that the building of the new road will lead to the destruction of fertile arable land and unspoilt countryside, that amount to various tumoli of agricultural land.

“Residents are pointing out that this part is also the only open space they have for some exercise in the fresh air. The area has already a very busy main road and the coast road. Residents do not need another road,” Cassola said.

He noted that the Local Council say they are not informed of the exact plans.

“It is important that environmental NGOs and civil society resist this destruction of agricultural open spaces, which will not only bring about an increase in car traffic in the area but also a deterioration in air quality, which will be detrimental to the residents' health,” Cassola said.