Updated - Adds Transport Malta reaction - A rural road leading to a plot of land in Qormi given to Mark Gaffarena as part of a controversial €1.65 million expropriation deal has been paved with concrete from taxpayers’ money and EU funds.

However, adjacent country roads which are in dire need of repair, since some 120 families there, did not benefit from the works. 

Residents who spoke to The Sunday Times of Malta questioned how authorities had decided to give priority to this particular road leading to a dead end, when they had been asking for better access to their neighbourhood for many years.

Questions sent to Transport Malta, which carried out these works, remained unanswered.

The plot of agricultural land belonging to Mr Gaffarena is located along the boundary between Żebbuġ and Qormi in the Ħandaq area. The land was part of an expropriation deal through which the government acquired half a property in Old Mint Street, Valletta. 

The works, which involved the laying of concrete complete with steel mesh along a stretch of 400 metres of rural roads, were completed last Thursday.

TRANSPORT MALTA REACTION

In a reaction issued in the evening, Transport Malta said the road was surfaced as part of a project financed through the European Agricultural Fund for rural development. 72 roads will be improved around Malta and Gozo at a cost of around €7 million.

It said that in 2013 Local Councils were asked to identify rural roads that needed repairs. Transport Malta, distributed the budget amongst all localities and a number of eligible roads from each locality were selected according to established criteria.

Part of nearby Triq Għarram and Triq it-Tiġieġ will also be improved through this project.  

A Transport Malta billboard erected at the foot of Triq Għarram which, ironically, was not included in these works so far. Photos: Keith Micallef