Nationalist Party MPS Adrian Delia and Julie Zahra have called for clarity over the future of the Birkirkara police station after plans were submitted for the building currently housing the station to be converted for touristic purposes.
Zahra has written to the Police Commissioner seeking answers on whether the authorities are aware of Planning Authority application PA/03685/26 and, if the proposal is approved, where the Birkirkara police station will be relocated.
In her letter, sent on Wednesday, Zahra said she was writing on behalf of residents of Birkirkara and questioned whether the locality would continue to have a police station if the planning application goes ahead.
The application concerns the police station in Triq il-Kbira, Birkirkara, with the proposal seeking to convert the existing premises into a house used for touristic purposes
Zahra asked the Commissioner whether the Police Force was aware of the application and requested confirmation of where in Birkirkara a police station would be located if the proposal is approved.
She also asked whether the Police Force had been consulted about the future of the premises and whether it had identified alternative premises should the existing station no longer be available.
Zahra further urged the Commissioner to reassure residents that Birkirkara would continue to have a police station, highlighting that the station serves not only residents of Birkirkara but also people from surrounding localities, including Iklin, Lija and Balzan.
In a separate statement, PN MP Adrian Delia said the building housing the Birkirkara police station had returned to its owners and that planning permission had now been issued for it to be converted into a house for touristic purposes.
Delia said that while there was nothing inherently wrong with the building being returned to its owners, concerns remained over the lack of information about where the police station would be relocated.
He described Birkirkara as one of Malta's largest localities and stressed the importance of the police station to residents of the town and neighbouring communities.
"Until now nobody knows where it will be relocated," Delia said, calling for residents to be given reassurance without delay.
Zahra said she was awaiting a response from the Police Commissioner on the matter.