Safety at building sites

In view of the fact that several people have been killed on building sites in Malta in the past few years, and many people injured, I feel I must put pen to paper and describe the condition of a building site in Xagħra.

A well-known Gozitan developer is building a block of apartments opposite property owned by friends of mine whom we visited some nights ago.

I was, quite frankly, scared of walking down the once well-kept alley, as there was a huge, two-storey-deep, unprotected hole less than a metre away from their front door.

In addition, one had to dodge earth-moving equipment and ensure that one didn't trip on the torn-up paving or step on the broken cover of a drain and break one's neck or ankle.

We had been warned, so brought a flashlight with us, without which we might just be statistics today.

I can only pray that the two children who live in the alley do not succumb to their inquisitiveness and fall down the hole.

Not only did our friends have to contend with the noise and dust involved in the demolition of buildings and the excavation of this hole for more than 10 weeks (no dust protection measures were taken), but the alley was completely obstructed at all hours with trucks and earth-moving equipment, effectively blocking the entrance to their home.

The sub-contractors were consistently rude and surly when asked to move machines away from the front door, or when requested not to leave machines idling when not in use, thus spewing clouds of diesel fumes into the alley and adjacent homes.

I find it appalling that such conditions are still common on these islands and that the authorities do nothing about it.

What a lovely break our friends and their guests enjoyed in eco-Gozo!