Protruding metal bars and displaced stones have been a serious hazard in the Veċċa area at St Paul’s Bay but the outgoing council failed to act when the problems were flagged almost a year ago.

Former Nationalist Party president Frank Portelli said he had sent an e-mail with photographs of the rundown area on April 7 last year, pointing out the hazards children walking in the area faced.

He also sent a copy of the e-mail to Transport Malta because the danger extended to the quay.

The council immediately acknowledged the complaint and assured Dr Portelli it would do its utmost to get back with a reply “as soon as possible”.

But almost a year later the hazards remain, as The Times confirmed this week when it visited the area.

Dr Portelli highlighted this incident as an example of administrative failings at a local and governmental level that have angered people. “It is this sort of inaction that kept people away from local elections last Saturday.”

The St Paul’s Bay council was one of three that shifted to the Labour Party from the PN in Saturday’s vote.