Alternattiva Demokratika has reiterated its call for proper studies on the proposed Għadira road saying this evening that it would rather lose EU funds than have the government forge ahead blindly.

Speaking in front of St James Cavalier, AD chairman Arnold Cassola said the authorities should not have left the plans for the last minute, just before the closing date to apply for funds.

German Green MEP Michael Cramer also called for studies and public hearings and stressed that protected areas could not be ruined to make way for new roads.

Prof. Cassola argued that Għadira bay could disappear in the coming years due to climate change and the resulting rise in sea level.

He asked the government to publish an ADT report, published in 2005, looking at two possibilities for the area – the building of a perched road and the upgrading of the same road.

Another report had also been drafted by developers.

Government plans to replace the current road with another running alongside the back of the Danish Village, touching the Foresta 2000 project site, as part of the proposed EU Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T project) were revealed last month.