Naxxar community space works halted as contractor runs into legal issues
The project is set to be completed by the end of the year
Work on a new community green space in Naxxar has been halted after the contractor ran into legal issues, Infrastructure Malta has said.
One reader told Times of Malta that the project on Triq John Ayde had been a sea of activity before the election, but that since then, the workers had abandoned the site.
Naxxar mayor Christopher Deguara confirmed that works had started earlier this year and had continued “at a good pace” in the lead-up to last month’s election, but that since then, works had been “at a standstill”.
On Friday, hours after Times of Malta contacted the authority about the project, Infrastructure Malta (IM) posted on Facebook that the works were “temporarily halted” after the contractor encountered legal issues unrelated to the site and was unable to keep operating.
Works are expected to resume “in the coming weeks”, it said.
The work will see a stretch of a Naxxar road converted into a 200-metre-long green space featuring indigenous trees, picnic areas and recreational areas, with the street being narrowed in favour of pedestrians.
The project falls under the government’s Vjal Kulħadd (“Everyone’s Boulevard”) initiative, which pledges to transform 14 community areas into greener and more pedestrian and cycle-friendly spaces.
A €10 million fund is supporting the project, which is slated for completion by the end of the year.
Writing on Facebook, Infrastructure Malta said the Naxxar project “remains on track for completion during the fourth quarter of this year”.
Times of Malta understands that proposals for increased parking provision put forward by residents during the public consultation were not accepted.
IM said in its post that feedback to the consultation had been “carefully considered to ensure the final design balances community needs while remaining faithful to the vision and objectives of the Vjal Kulħadd initiative”.
The authority and local council "remain fully committed" to the project, it said.
Other areas set to see new community spaces under the initiative include Attard, Fgura, Floriana, Żebbuġ, Mellieħa, Mosta, Msida, Rabat, Safi, Siġġiewi, Tarxien, Kirkop and Żurrieq.
Launched in September last year, the Vjal Kulħadd initiative invited local councils to apply for projects to make village squares and residential streets safer and more pedestrianised.
Around 40 local councils applied for the scheme.