Many have complained about the easily stained white paving used on several Valletta streets to turn them into car-free zones.

Among those that were not impressed was Transport Minister Austin Gatt, a resident of the capital whose ministry is located in Strait Street, one of the recently paved roads.

People close to Dr Gatt, who gets to see the sullied slabs every day, said he hated the material chosen for the job.

Although many may conclude he was responsible for the decision given that, as Transport Minister road works would usually fall under his umbrella, the project was actually “co-owned” with George Pullicino’s Ministry of Resources and Rural Affairs, which took care of the rehabilitation aspect.

The MRRA is responsible for all the rehabilitation projects, including the Valletta Rehabilitation Project (VRP), which handles restoration works in the capital.

Despite this, Dr Gatt issued instructions to stop using the white material, which has turned into a foul shade of grey due to vehicle oil, pigeon droppings and other dirt.

When contacted for his official reaction, Dr Gatt’s spokesman pointed out that the choice of materials was made by the VRP architect in charge of project design.

The spokesman said: “It is evident the material used does not give the desired results, so much so that Minister Gatt directed it is not to be used for other streets, which will be paved either with lava or with porfido,”

The MRRA seems to have accepted the directives issued by Dr Gatt. A spokesman confirmed the rest of the planned paving would be done either with lava or porfido and not the white hardstone.

The MRRA had stood by the choice of material when first questioned by The Times about the matter. The ministry spokesman had forwarded the comments of architect Claude Borg who said the hardstone was the material used in the past and the decision was made following two years of research.

Mr Borg had criticised those who claimed this was clearly a bad decision, arguing the look of the stones would improve through weathering and use.

“The selected materials of hardstone and lava are specifically chosen to reintegrate with the remaining materials and to respect the same paving materials that were used.”

He said it was “irrational” to use extraneous materials similar to other foreign historic centres just because they were dark.