Not in my back garden even if it's cart ruts

San Ġwann residents living near the Mensija cart ruts have been stopped from using their backdoor, which leads onto the historic site, after the local council fenced off the area on Monday.

The residents, who have lived in the area for over 30 years, signed a petition calling on the local council to re-open the site, allowing them to make use of their backdoors, which were covered by planning permits.

The petition, which was given to the mayor on Monday, was also signed by other residents who live behind the cart ruts.

They argued that, for the past decades, they walked through the site to access Mensija Road where all the amenities are, including the bus stop. Some residents, who gathered around the fenced off ruts yesterday, stressed that they agreed with the council's efforts to conserve the site and keep it clean. "We agree that the cart ruts should be safeguarded. But this need not be at the expense of residents," explained Rita Saliba, a San Ġwann resident who is also a councillor.

Violet Bajada, whose backdoor overlooks the cart ruts, added that residents were objecting to the fact that they were being asked to forfeit their right to their backdoor, which meant having to walk round the block to get to the shops.

Ms Bajada, who is also a councillor, stressed that, like Ms Saliba, she was acting as a resident and not speaking in her role as councillor.

They explained that the cart ruts was sealed off following the decision of mayor Joseph Agius. Later that day some councillors presented the mayor with the residents' petition and a letter informing him that his decision, taken without a vote, was denying residents of their right to make use of their backdoor.

After receiving the letter, they explained, the mayor called for a vote and four of the nine councillors voted against closing off the cart ruts, which also attracted tourists to the area. Mr Agius could not be contacted yesterday for his comments.

In March, the council filed a planning application to convert the site in Mensija into an archaeological park and also applied for EU funding covering 85 per cent of the project, estimated to cost about €150,000.

Visitors to the park, the first of its kind in Malta, will be able to enjoy the mysterious cart ruts that will be protected by overlying bridges to ensure no one walks over them.

Ms Bajada explained that years would probably pass before this project materialised. She wanted the council to reassure residents and tourists that they would be able to enjoy and access the cart ruts again.

The origins of the cart ruts, estimated to date back to between 2,300 and 1,000 BC, are shrouded in mystery. While some believe they are the result of the repeated wheeling of carts through a specific path, other more eccentric theories suggest they could be the remains of alien contact.

According to the local council's website, the presence of these prehistoric cart ruts suggests that the region may have housed an agricultural community that made full use of the then fertile valleys of Wied Għomor, Wied il-Ballut and Wied Għollieqa.