The list used by Transport Malta to keep track of who is responsible for the upkeep of particular roads is “in no urgent need of updating”, a spokesman for the authority said.

Last week, Magistrate Francesco Depasquale said that Transport Malta, together with the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, “abdicated” from its responsibility to have an updated list of roads which were considered arterial or distributor and, therefore, who was responsible for their upkeep.

The magistrate said the transport authority was legally bound to keep this list updated and available.

He made the comments in a court judgment in which Transport Malta was ordered to pay €5,215 for the damage caused to a car when it overturned after driving into a deep pothole along Salina Road, Naxxar, four years ago.

Although drawn up some time back it remains very much valid and in force today with no urgent need of updating

During the court case, Transport Malta argued it was responsible for arterial and distributor roads only. It said it relied on a 1999 map, drawn up by the planning authority, to determine which roads fell under these two categories. The authority argued that Salina Road, built in 2004, did not fall under any of the two, which meant it was the responsibility of the local council.

But the court concluded that the road in question was a distributor road – since it linked with arterial roads – which meant that Transport Malta was responsible for its maintenance. The magistrate added that the authority failed to keep the list of roads updated.

Times of Malta sent questions to Transport Malta asking whether it had an updated list or was planning on drawing one up.

A spokesman said the list of roads existed in the form of a booklet with schematic maps extracted from the ‘Structure Plan for the Maltese Islands’.

“Although drawn up some time back [1999] it remains very much valid and in force today with no urgent need of updating. So much so that it is regularly presented as determining documented evidence in many such court cases against Transport Malta.

“This particular court has, however, rejected this evidence and Transport Malta will be reviewing its position with its legal advisers,” the spokesman said.