Seven possible sites were considered for the relocation of the Sunday Valletta open market, the government said yesterday.

Parliamentary Secretary Jason Azzopardi said the government had done its utmost to find a central and accessible area that was also large enough to hold about 200 hawker stalls and which was available all year round.

He was reacting to comments by Labour spokesman Chris Cardona who earlier in the day hit out at the Valletta Sunday market move.

Labour slammed the decision to move the market to Blata l-Bajda from St James Ditch, saying the government had imposed the decision without consultation. The new site was inadequate and the government had acted in an insensitive manner, which threatened the livelihood of some 200 people, it said.

Dr Cardona said vendors would also lose business generated by cruise liner passengers who tended to walk up from Pinto Wharf.

Dr Azzopardi noted seven options for the relocation had been considered. These included the ditch under City Gate, known as the Yellow Garage area; the area next to Belt is-Sebħ, in Floriana; St Anne Street, Floriana; Notre Dame Ditch, Floriana; around the Floriana Granaries; on the Granaries themselves and near the Blata l-Bajda park-and-ride at Flagstone Wharf.

The secretariat challenged the opposition to confirm or deny whether Labour leader Joseph Muscat had promised hawkers a site in Valletta if he were Prime Minister during a private meeting at the party’s headquarters last Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Asked to confirm whether the meeting took place, a Labour spokesman said he was unable to comment on this as the party planned to issue a reaction after going through Dr Azzopardi’s comments. Dr Azzopardi said Labour should also confirm whether or not a promise was made to the daily Valletta hawkers that a new PL government would again site them in front of the shops in Merchants Street.

The market, which used to be set up in St James Ditch, Valletta, on Sunday mornings will not be there tomorrow and will move to the park-and-ride area in Blata l-Bajda as of next Sunday.

In a statement, Labour said it had met the hawkers numerous times on their request to discuss the problems they faced. It had promised it would continue consulting with them to try and find a location close to the current one.

Labour also challenged Transport Minister Austin Gatt to say whether it was true he had ­promised they would be relocated to another zone close to City Gate.