Minister replies to council's protest

The Minister for Resources and Infrastructure yesterday replied to a judicial protest filed by Marsascala local council in the Civil Court over the authorities' failure to carry out urgently required works at St Thomas Garden at Marsascala.

The minister yesterday declared that the government had carried out a number of works in this public garden, and had installed electricity poles and pathways.

But the works mentioned by the council consisted in the embellishment of the garden's promenade and this could not be carried out until the requisite permit was obtained from MEPA.

Furthermore, the council was duty bound to maintain the public gardens in its locality.

St Thomas Gardens qualified as a public garden, and the council was responsible for its maintenance and upkeep in the interests of the residents of the locality.

The minister added that the government had carried out a number of works in this garden to assist the council, but this did not exonerate the council from fulfilling its legal obligation of maintaining the garden too.

The council was therefore requested to withdraw its allegations.

Dr Victoria Buttigieg signed the reply.