Council calls for works on garden

Marsascala local council yesterday filed a judicial protest in the Civil Court calling on the Minister for Resources and the Infrastructure to carry out necessary works at St Thomas Garden.

The council declared it had received many complaints from residents and tourists who visited the garden at Marsascala to the effect that the garden required serious maintenance particularly in respect of the garden promenade.

These complaints had been forwarded by the council to the responsible authorities, and in 1998, the government had included the maintenance and embellishment works for the garden in its plan for Marsascala and the works had commenced.

But with the change in government, the works had suddenly come to a halt with the result that the promenade in the garden was totally abandoned and was now posing a danger to persons who visited the garden.

The council had repeatedly insisted that the works be continued, for the safety of the public, but no action was taken.

As a result, the council had commissioned an architect to produce a technical report on the state of the garden, and the architect had concluded that the railings, columns and the surface of the promenade were in a dangerous state, and that repair works were urgently required.

The council yesterday claimed it was empowered to advice the authorities of matters within its locality, and it had advised the minister of the urgent need for works to be carried out.

As no action was taken, the council declared it was filing the protest to exculpate itself from any responsibility for the matter and to call on the authorities to take the requisite action.

Dr Aron Mifsud Bonnici signed the protest.