A year and a half ago the Birżebbuġa local council resurfaced part of St George's Street, where every year seawater floods the street through storm water drain channels.

During resurfacing the street level was not altered and this is shown by the fact that with reference to the surrounding streets, there is no difference in street levels. It is true that the seawater flooding has extended in the past year and this is occurring because the sea level is increasing at an alarming rate. This can also be seen from the level of sea water in the slipway just in front of the council's offices. We totally agree with correspondent Saviour Fenech that global warming has reached our shores.

The council has been dealing with this problem for quite a long time now but to find a solution is by no means an easy task. To consider the solution mentioned in Mr Fenech's letter (building a raised road over the existing one - a bridge) would be one option but levelling the bridge with the surrounding streets would create yet another problem because the bridge would obstruct the rainwater from reaching the drain channels to the sea.

Since the surrounding houses are built under street level, flooding would increase.

To find a solution is easier said than done!

The council is working on collecting data and commissioning surveys so as to try and address the matter in a holistic way.