A developer of a block of apartments in St Julian’s intends suing the authorities who last week stopped trenching works that were meant to connect residences to the sewer system.

An irate Joe Cassar yesterday told Times of Malta he planned to sue for compensation because he had pending contracts to sell his apartments but these could not be signed until the sewage connection was complete.

The Tourism Ministry last week halted works in Wied Għomor Street after businesses, such as Ryan’s Pub, and other residents, complained about the bad timing of the work, bang in the middle of summer and in an area frequented by thousands flocking to watch World Cup matches.

Roadworks and trenching are exempt from the blanket ban on excavation and demolition work in tourist zones throughout the summer, but the work was still halted.

We have an apartment, and commitments with the bank but everything is stalled because of this

Every year, such works are prohibited between June 15 and September 30, but the same legal notice contains several exemptions.

The legal notice states that all construction work involving trenching of ducts not exceeding three metres deep are exempt from the ban if they are used for the installation of infrastructure related to the provision of water, sewerage services, storm water discharges, electrical energy and telecommunications.

Mr Cassar said he could not understand why the works were stopped when there was this exemption and when the authorities had taken so long to start the project.

“We’ve had permits in hand since the end of May but until the work actually started it was already the first week of June,” he said.

“Then the contractor was stopped because of some Sette Giugno activity in St Julian’s and then he was stopped again when all he had left was 30 metres to get to the main connection; about two days’ more of work,” Mr Cassar added.

The owners of the rest of the block of nine apartments complained they had nowhere to live as they had sold their residence to move in to their new apartment but were now faced with this problem.

They said the Tourism Ministry was not to blame for this mishap as the other entities should have planned the work better.

“The permit to build this block was issued five years ago so they knew we needed a sewage connection. Then they started the work in June and the project was blocked because of the bad timing.

“I’m very sorry but we are not to blame for this. We have an apartment, and commitments with the bank but everything is stalled because of this,” said one owner who did not want to be named.

mxuereb@timesofmalta.com