Environment NGO Din l-Art Helwa said today that no matter the environmental studies now being requested, a bridge to Gozo would have such a negative visual and environmental impact that it should never have been proposed in the first place and should be struck off the national agenda.

"In particular if the bridge has to touch upon Comino or even skirt it as had been suggested, this would have horrendous repercussions upon this beautiful island."

The NGO was reacting after the prime minister last week had talks with a Chinese company with is studying the feasibility of building the bridge. During his meeting he called on the company to consider the environmental impact of the bridge.

DLH called on the government to declare up front that any proposal for a permanent link would have no impact whatsoever on Comino.

"Environmental studies should have been considered from the start and not tacked on as an afterthought... Given the massive importance of this project, it is in the national interest to ensure that all such studies are carried out by the most qualified of companies, ones which do not have any possible conflict of interest and that have been selected only after rigorous and transparent tendering processes."

It call for a cost benefit analysis of transport links between Gozo and Malta, which will fully compare the environmental, economic and social impacts of all available options – including a tunnel, a bridge, expanded services by sea or any other proposals.