The Ombudsman will be looking into the controversial decision to narrow part of the Mellieħa Bypass to make way for a new road servicing a massive private development consisting of 152 apartments.
The investigation was launched at the request of Nationalist MP and former Mellieħa mayor Robert Cutajar, who described the handling of this planning issue by the relevant authorities as “very suspicious”.
Plans to sacrifice part of the bypass – Triq Louis Wettinger, as it is called – for the construction of a new service road emerged last March through a parliamentary question filed by Mr Cutajar. Back then the government justified the move on the basis of a planning policy review for the area, known as Ta’ Masrija, which had been approved in 2015.
Faced with public anger, the government backtracked on its decision to narrow part of the bypass and announced a €2 million project to keep the existing four-lane configuration. The move raised eyebrows as it was perceived as an attempt to use taxpayers’ money to quell criticism while accommodating the private development at the same time. Work on the road project, for which no tenders were issued, is already under way and the government is committing itself to complete the job by the start of summer, just a month away.
We want to have our minds at rest that there was no maladministration
In his request to Ombudsman Anthony Mifsud, the MP noted that he had also been approached by concerned residents of Ta’ Masrija who asked for his support.
“We want to have our minds at rest that there was no maladministration by the relevant authorities,” the MP remarked.
“The manner in which part of the bypass was taken up and the way in which the adjacent development is taking place have fuelled suspicion,” Mr Cutajar told the Ombudsman.
Doubts were also raised about the planning policy itself, with the MP claiming that following the 2015 review, there had been at least three subsequent amendments.
The MP is also seeking the Lands Authority’s position on the fact that the take-up of public land to accommodate the development could have led to these properties fetching a higher price on the market.
Completion of works on the Mellieħa Bypass has been promised by the start of summer. The restructured road will compensate for the encroachment onto the bypass of a new service road serving a massive private development.In view of this, he requested the Ombudsman to initiate an investigation and clarify any doubts. The probe is set to start in the coming days.
Meanwhile, work on the “reconstruction” of the Mellieħa Bypass has been entrusted to four contractors who have been chosen through a direct order.
Transport Malta, which is coordinating the project, justified the decision saying it wanted to expedite the works in order to minimise inconveniences for residents and thousands of motorists who make use of this arterial road, especially Gozitans.
Apart from resurfacing a 1.4km stretch, the project includes street lighting, safety barriers and a new slip road to Triq il-Miżieb.
Throughout the controversy, the government insisted that no adjacent land would be taken up to compensate for the inner lane which was lost to build the service road. This has fuelled concerns that in order to retain the four-lane module, the bypass will have to be narrowed.