For the past five years, access to the Ħamri Street Belvedere in Għajnsielem, overlooking Mġarr Harbour, has been denied to visitors, especially those with special needs and women with pushchairs because of construction material blocking the ramp leading to the lower tier of the belvedere, while work was carried on the development close by.

Work on this development or extension has stopped for over a year pending a court decision. I have been told the ramp could not be cleared and restored as there is a risk to users when construction work eventually resumes. However, I do not see any danger for users while there is no work going on at the moment. When work resumes the ramp can be temporarily closed again until the work is completed.

The developer is more than willing to restore the ramp and the belvedere to its original state.

I think the authorities involved, including the Malta Environment and Planning Authority and the Lands Department, should give their go-ahead to the developer of the project to restore the ramp and railing immediately. Even those whose concern it is to see that facilities for people with special needs are in order should do their part to restore this ramp to its original state so it can be used safely.

Danish people with special needs visit our village every year and stay at the Arka Respite Centre in Għajnsielem. It is very sad to see that they have to be lifted and carried down to the lower tier of the belvedere because they cannot use the ramp (see photo). This is certainly not giving Malta and Gozo any good publicity.