Labour leader Alfred Sant yesterday pledged to reform the local warden system to ensure they are no longer used merely as tax collectors.

He said the reform would have five goals and would, among others, ensure better management in the way discipline on the roads was enforced, and provide wardens with a greater role in safeguarding the island's environment.

The reform is also geared to establish financial justice for the local councils offering this service, to reflect the burden involved and the money made by the companies that employed the wardens.

Dr Sant was yesterday discussing this reform while rounding up the congress for Labour local councillors.

During his speech, he announced that if elected to power his Government would invest Lm10 million (€23.3 million) in developing two projects in every locality.

During the summer months, the party had invited every local council in Malta and Gozo to submit two to three project proposals.

The response had been good and a number of proposals had already been agreed upon, or were close to being concluded.

Among these were the completion of the Ring Road in Zejtun, embellishing the fortification lines in Cospicua, and resurfacing the main square in Luqa.