Lija is indeed special

It has been truly a pleasure meeting so many people in Lija over the past three weeks. Inevitably there are many I will not have had the opportunity to meet. However, the more area I cover and people I meet, the more I realise why this unique village is so worth working for.

It will be an honour for me to represent the Greens in such a special place. Fortunately, the sterling work of Green councillor James Camilleri, who has served Lija over the past three years, has established a credible Green legacy in this village.

I am committed to build on this legacy to strengthen Green politics at the local level for the benefit of all the village residents.

To maintain its uniqueness, Lija needs to be defended from unsustainable development. Few localities in Malta and Gozo can boast such charm, tranquillity and quaintness. Lija residents are indeed blessed that their locality has, as yet, not been ravaged by the kind of over-development that has sadly afflicted neighbouring Attard and Balzan.

I have made it a point to convey the message to all those I have met that unsustainable development in the village is not only a serious threat to people's quality of life, but also a risk to the impairment of resident's major financial asset: their home.

While I can never promise that the locality will not fall victim to the greed of inconsiderate property speculation, I can commit myself and my party to stand on the front line to object to such development. Green councillors, in particular, have proven ability to defending pockets of residents in such circumstances.

We will always be there when you need us most! Over the past 12 months we have actively and courageously stood up for the rights of residents to enjoy tranquillity in their homes in Paceville, Birkirkara, Sliema, Zabbar, Marsascala and Sannat. We will continue doing so in the years to come.

One issue I would like to deal with in the coming three years is the serious inconvenience that is still being caused to many residents by the dust and noise pollution emanating from the 'bricks factory' in neighbouring Naxxar. While nobody can expect the factory to disappear, residents are right in demanding that any inconvenience be minimised.

I intend making this issue a clear priority and look forward to working with fellow councillors to find a fair solution to this problem, once and for all!

It is no easy task for the next Lija local council to identify a similarly quaint locality with which to finalise a "twinning programme". Personally, I believe that it would be wise to search for a village in the Tuscany-Emilia (Italy) region that is ideally situated on a hillside.

Since Lija is a village sitting in a valley, it will be possible to create exchange programmes/visits through which residents of Lija may be able to experience village life on a mount while the Italian residents can visit us to experience village life in a valley.

Such programmes not only enrich the cultural experience of residents. They also raise the cultural and heritage status of Lija. I am committed to work in the next council to finalise a twinning agreement to the benefit of residents.

The next Lija council needs to ensure that all residents have proper access to public transport. Many residents in areas of 'tal-Mirakli' feel that this has been denied to them. While recognising the intricate difficulties of finding a sustainable solution to such a problem, the next council must give the issue a re-thinking, preferably by thinking 'out of the box'.

Personally, I believe we should explore developing an intra-village route via an electric bus that will service the needs of residents of Lija-Attard-Balzan while removing the need of the public buses to enter the three villages. However, I am also very willing to listen to the ideas of other councillors, to arrive at an optimal solution.

A Green representative on the Lija local council will serve to bring more unity and cohesion within the council administration. It is the one guarantee we can give residents. I would like to contribute to ensuring that the next council is fully dedicated to the needs of the residents. I would also like to take the opportunity to wish all the other candidates the best of luck for next Saturday. Ultimately, may Lija win!

Edward P. Fenech is Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party's candidate on Lija.