Where's the Xemxija bypass?

The issue of an outline permit to construct tower blocks with over 800 flats on the site formerly occupied by the tourist complex of Mistra Village prompted me to delve into my records for correspondence dealing with the long existing situation at Xemxija Hill and the proposed, but unconstructed, Pwales bypass.

Among the documents I found was a letter dated December 17, 1997 from the president of Assoċjazzjoni Residenti San Pawl-il-Baħar addressed to the mayor of the local council suggesting an alternative bypass to Xemxija Hill.

On September 3, 2001, I wrote a letter to the Planning Authority suggesting the same alternative bypass (plan included). The Team Manager, Local Plans Unit, Planning Authority, replied that my "comments will be taken into consideration".

On November 12, 2002, Frank Scerri, on behalf of the residents' association, wrote to the director of Mepa, copied to two ministers and the mayor, suggesting the same alternative bypass (including plan) and objecting to the delay on this matter.

In October and November 2003 I wrote two letters to the editor of The Times, the first objecting to the re-design of Xemxija Hill and the second asking what action has been taken about the re-design and about the proposed and still unconstructed bypass.

In April 2004, I wrote to the Prime Minister asking for action on this matter and in May I wrote to The Times expressing views on the government's proposal of a bypass going through Manikata.

In August of that year, Minister Jesmond Mugliett wrote to inform me that the Malta Transport Authority was (at the time) "engaged in an exercise which was looking at the various problems on Route 1 (from Ħal Far to Ċirkewwa)".

The following September I addressed letters to the Prime Minister, the minister concerned, the director of the Malta Transport Authority and the director general at Mepa pointing out the amount of diesel fumes and noise being suffered by Xemxija Hill residents.

On October 5, 2004 I received a letter from the director general, Mepa, stating that the Malta Transport Authority have "engaged consultants to design Route 1", and that "a final set of plans will soon be made public".

On the 28th of that month I wrote to the director general of Mepa objecting to "building permits being issued for blocks of flats, garages, shops and restaurants on Xemxija Hill, this being counter to the recommendations of the NWLP (NSP 41)".

On June 9, 2008, the local council stated that they have no information on this bypass.

As can be seen from the above, frequent efforts to rid Xemxija Hill residents of heavy diesel fumes and noise have, for the past 10 years, proved futile. To make matters worse, permits for the construction of apartment blocks with garages opening on to this road have been issued, new restaurants and a mini-market have opened (all this with never a word from the Mepa Audit Officer).

The traffic to and from Gozo has at least doubled and now an increase of about 2,000 vehicles will be generated by the proposed Mistra Village tower blocks. Most of this is in direct conflict with the North West Local Plan. And still the Mepa Audit Officer has not raised his voice.

I am hereby publicly appealing to Simon Busuttil, as our MEP, to bring this matter up before the competent European authorities.