Attard bypass will take up acres upon acres of arable land – David Agius

Nationalist Party deputy leader David Agius has written the following right of reply in response to an editorial that was published on Tuesday 5 June.

“At no point have I ever mentioned that I am either totally in favour or totally against the proposed Attard bypass. What I have asked the Labour Minister in a positive but strong tone of voice in Parliament was to publish the latest plans and all the studies that have been carried out, including the Traffic Impact Assessment (TIS), the Cost Benefit Analysis, traffic counts studies and the Environment Impact Assessment, the alternatives that have been considered and all the pertinent studies, so that a proper evaluation exercise of the project is carried out.

“This is not just a widening of the existing road, it is a project estimated to cost over fifty five million Euro, to be paid from taxpayers money and the public has every right to evaluate where our taxes are being spent.

“The proposed Attard bypass as proposed today by the Labour Government will be taking acres and acres of arable land in the process. It is very difficult to quantify how many, as the Government did not publish the studies that have been done, nor has the Minister replied with facts and figures to my Parliamentary questions.

“Farms, businesses and residential roads are going to be negatively affected, parking spaces are going to be lost and noise and air pollution are surely going to increase because more cars will consequently use this bypass.

“What I proposed as well is that before any construction works starts, a number of traffic management issues will be implemented immediately.

“I suggested that traffic management changes take place at a number of particular areas that will affect all users of this bypass and the residents of Attard. These traffic flow changes will effect mainly the crossing at Attard Farm Supplies, the crossing from Mdina Road to Zebbug, and the flow of traffic in Notabile Road towards the San Anton area. These are minor changes but I am sure that they will result in significant and positive results.

“People like me who have been driving in this area for years can confirm that hardly any traffic policeman nor Transport Malta Traffic Officer or traffic wardens are seen in these areas to help the traffic flow during the rush hours.

“I propose that before the Government embarks on this mega project, these Traffic flow changes are put in action with the existing road network and Transport Malta should measure the improvement on the traffic flow in the Attard area.

“These changes would not cost anything and should give the Government a good indication of what is the effect of such changes.

“I hope that the Government will publish all the studies made, which I am sure the Planning Authority should have in hand, prior to approving the planning application. This would give the residents and other interested parties, to carry out a proper and professional evaluation of the project prior to the tax payers’ money is spent.”