Environment has nothing to do with project: Attard PL local councillor

The Central Link project is necessary and Attard residents have been waiting for over 40 years for such a project, according to Attard PL local councillor John Bonnici. “I do agree with the project 100 per cent,” he said.

When asked whether he believed that the project was environmentally friendly, he said that everything had been explained beforehand and that “what happens to a couple of trees does not mean that the project should not be carried out.”

On Monday, Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg said that the Central Link project would be ‘environmentally friendly’ and that the government would continue to explain its benefits. He also said that he had ‘great respect’ for those who wanted to genuinely express their concerns about the environment.

Borg was referring to last Sunday’s protest in Attard against the uprooting of trees as part of the Central Link project, in which around 1,000 people took part. The Planning Authority recently approved the controversial Central Link project, as part of which over 500 trees will be uprooted, and some 49,000 square metres of agricultural land will be used.

The €55 million project is intended to alleviate traffic congestion in Attard’s village core, and stretches from the Mrieħel bypass to the foot of Saqqajja Hill on the outskirts of Rabat.

The Malta Independent contacted the three Attard PL local councillors to ask for their opinion on the project and the minister’s comments.

When asked whether he thought the project is a pro-environment one, Bonnici replied: “It has nothing to do with the environment and there are a lot of people have been suffering for the past 40 years, especially the people living in Mdina Road.”

Another Attard PL local councillor, Victor Galea, also agreed with the project. “It needs to be done. I live in that area and it needs to be done.”

“I do believe that the Central Link project is pro-environment as it will move traffic out of Attard and nearby villages and generally reduce congestion and pollution,” said PL minority council leader Helen Caruana Zammit Lewis. She said that she experienced the traffic every day, and during the election period had had the opportunity to meet numerous residents to discuss the project.

“During home visits, I discussed traffic issue and many residents were in favour of the Central Link project, as they are concerned mostly about noise and air pollution and the safety of their roads.” She claimed that the project was pro-environment compared to the original plans of 2006, since it would more trees planted than there currently are, the addition of bicycle lanes, and less agricultural land taken up. She added that road users would spend less time in traffic, resulting in fewer emissions and noise pollution in the area.

Asked for her opinion on the number of trees to be cut down, she explained that Infrastructure Malta had obliged the contractors of the project not only to plant the trees, but also to maintain them for the next five years. She added that the newly planted trees would not be saplings, but mature trees, and that while there was a risk that not all would survive, she was confident they stood a fair chance. Referring to such measures taken by Infrastructure Malta, she said: “I hope that this will also be implemented in future projects.”

“On my part, I have vouched to liaise with Infrastructure Malta to ensure this project is of the least inconvenience to Attard residents, especially since they need and have been waiting for this project to be implemented for a very long time.”

Attard Mayor Stefan Cordina was also contacted but no reply was forthcoming.