Local councils should not be considered as being the front desk of the office of Central Government's customer care unit, Chairperson of ADPD Sandra Gauci said when she addressed a news conference in Marsascala.

She said that "It's in your interest to vote GREEN for the upcoming local council elections. It's in your interest to have people who work to strive for transparency, good governance, political will and the strengthening of local democracy. It's in your interest to have someone who is committed to this and in the process keep residents informed on everything that concerns the locality."

"It's in your interest to have local councils that are responsible for residential roads, greening your towns and villages with more indigenous trees, working to invest in local public libraries and striving to protect open spaces."

Gauci said: "We work to increase the areas reserved for people through pedestrianisation, so that we will have cleaner air and safer urban areas. The number of bicycle racks around the neighbourhood would increase. The role of Transport Malta should be one of a regulator, primarily to supervise and assist the local councils rather than overtake them in the management of the locality. The outdoor catering facilities policy should fall under the Local Councils and the Lands Authority should pass on information about the permits that were issued. It must be conducted mainly in the interest of the residents and of the local economy. Tourist operators should not be allowed to dictate how things are run."

It is necessary to have councillors who are able to look at the locality in its entirety with a vision for the future, she said.