The introduction of bring-in sites in Zurrieq has created a rift between the mayor and Nationalist members of the local council, although both sides appear to be in favour.

Mayor Ignatius Farrugia accused the two PN councillors, Melvyn Mangion and Mario Ellul, of voting against the introduction of bring-in sites in the locality.

The two councillors rebutted this claim, saying they had had no objection.

The issue was raised by the two Nationalist councillors on Monday when they complained in a statement that Zurrieq was the only village that did not yet have a bring-in site.

They had said the council, which has a Labour majority, believed residents should first be educated before being given the possibility to use bring-in sites and added that a motion they had signed in favour of bring-in sites had been opposed by the other councillors.

In a statement yesterday, the mayor pointed out that Mr Mangion and Mr Ellul had been present for a meeting between the council and a contractor during which it was agreed that bring-in sites would be introduced next month.

The mayor said that in the coming days the contractor would be meeting the council to start work on the site.

The two PN councillors stressed that bring-in sites should be introduced at the earliest so that residents are no longer discriminated against. They expressed the conviction that the residents were educated enough to separate waste without the need for studies, reports or surveys.