After reading the exposition by mayor Robert Tabone concerning the Victoria council's past and present efforts to solve our city's traffic problems (June 3), I reached the conclusion that the present council is facing the official apathy that its predecessors had faced from all concerned bodies, including our central government which is, of course, the pivot of all local administrations. In fact, as regards infrastructural projects, Victoria is back to square one.

I have every reason to assume that the projected ring road has since its inception been infested with all sorts of objections. Eventually these have, in fact, aborted this civic baby. I am also aware that in order to catch the bull by the horns, Albert Cauchi, who is an experienced civil, structural and architectural engineer, was asked to submit a report on this matter to our first Gozo Ministry. After scrutinising all submissions, Mr Cauchi appears to have concluded that after taking into account all circumstances "the best bet was a tunnel from the Pope John area to the Lyceum area".

I assume that with today's technology such a solution is somewhat more feasible than it was well over a decade ago, when it was initially launched by Mr Cauchi. This proposal, if adhered to, could also help remedy Victoria's disturbing problem brought up in this paper by George Edward Cremona (May 30).

This correspondent, who together with his family resides in our city's main thoroughfare, namely Republic Street, has pointed out that the residents of this civic artery have endured years of traffic accentuated by heavy vehicles that day in day out have unashamedly polluted their area.

Indeed they can no longer cope with such an absurd position. As the correspondent pointed out today "it is unimaginable to witness anything similar in any other European capital". It is, therefore, high time that the relevant past studies now be translated into facts.

In a nutshell, while endorsing the efforts that the present council is undertaking to remedy the situation, I feel I should urge the mayor and councillors to refrain from accepting any further official insensibility. It is high time that all residents of Victoria object to this official laissez-faire. Mr Cauchi's proposal of a tunnel - a first for the island - should offer one and all much food for thought.