Birkirkara should be transformed into a pedestrian-friendly town and freed of much of the traffic that currently chokes it, Alternattiva Demokratika has argued.

The town, which is Malta’s largest by population, was in dire need of a transportation revamp, the party said.

“Birkirkara need not continue to be a drive-through locality in the centre of the country,” said AD chairperson Carmel Cacopardo.

“More streets in Birkirkara should be returned to the people through pedestrianisation. This is a huge opportunity to develop a sense of community that connects the locality.”

Mr Cacopardo was speaking at an event flanked by AD’s Birkirkara local council election candidate Anna Azzopardi.

The party noted that the town needed a “dose of good governance”, saying that while council finances were in a better shape now than they were some years ago, things had not yet reached the levels required by good administration.

AD also touched on Birkirkara’s seasonal flooding problems, saying that government had spent decades turning a blind eye to the requirement for all buildings to have a functional well.

“Millions of litres of good water are lost,” AD said.