The Mosta local council said that work in the main town square will be suspended as from 5 August so as to facilitate the celebration of the feast of Santa Marija, scheduled for 15 August.

In a statement, the council said that the current phase of the project, concentrated on the Rotunda square, will be paused temporarily. It did not say when the work will resume.

“The local council will be taking the necessary steps to ensure that, every activity related to the external festivities of Santa Maria, including all the (band) marches, as well as the procession of Religious Feast on the 15 of August, will take place in the cleanest and safest environment for all those present,” the council said.

The council also referred to work on the roof of an underground reservoir situated beneath the centre of the square.

Structural investigations that were carried out revealed that the roofing of the reservoir was in a dangerous state.

For this reason, Infrastructure Malta issued an urgent permit together with the Planning Authority after consultation with the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage in order to carry out these necessary works on the roof of the building.