The Nationalist Party today expressed its regret that four benches removed from the Granaries for the Independence celebrations in September, have still not been returned.

Floriana council in a strongly worded statement earlier today accused the party of arrogance for having ignored its calls for the benches to be returned.

In a letter to the council, the PN said that whilst assuming full responsibility for this shortcoming, it wished to point out that it had been asking its contractor to reinstate the benches since October.

"Unfortunately these repeated appeals have been to date ignored. For this purpose the PN again regrets any inconvenience caused due to these shortcomings and will endeavour to see the benches reinstated by the contractor as soon as possible," the party said.

In its statement, the council said the fact that it had been repeatedly ignored by the party reflected arrogance which was unbecoming of an organisation which should be setting an example.

Such an incident, it said, justified the conditions it imposed on those who organised activities on the Granaries. The pity was that such conditions could not be imposed on the political parties, which were, according to law, free to hold their events without even seeking the council's permit.

The council said it would continue to insist that organisers paid for the damage they caused, and showed a modicum of respect to the community which hosted them.