Balluta Square: Fact not fiction

With reference to the report Balluta Square Under Threat, Claims Labour MP (October 28) Evarist Bartolo implies that certain improvements being applied for will destroy the area and do not appear in the PN electoral manifesto.

First of all Mr Bartolo is completely wrong in stating that any damage will occur as any improvement will only take place if and when all permits are successfully issued and that clearly means that no damage will be caused as no entity in its right mind would issue such permits otherwise.

Secondly, all the works intended have been unanimously approved by the PN and PL council members whose intention is to improve the locality and in no way cause damage to anything within the locality of St Julians and particularly to its patrimony.

Thirdly, Mr Bartolo states that the improvements did not form part of the PN Electoral manifesto. He is mistaken in that it is in fact within the PN electoral programme under the heading of Traffic Management. Mr Bartolo should know that not all the projects done by the councils are to be in the electoral manifesto. It was the student stipends that were removed when he was Minister of Education, even though this was not in the PL electoral programme.

May I assure Mr Bartolo and all residents of St Julians that the Balluta Square is not part of the project and anyone stating otherwise is simply not informed or is intentionally misleading others. As someone who has lived in the locality all my life, the Balluta Square is part of my childhood and I feel protective towards it as do all the council members.

Finally, it is the intention of the council to organise a public hearing to discuss the full project so as to ensure that everyone understands the implications. It is therefore advisable that any comments be withheld for that date.