Work carried out with no development permit by state agency Infrastructure Malta, to widen the road leading to Ramla Bay Hotel, has left farmers fuming in the wake of damage caused to their property.

Action on the matter was only taken after the issue was raised in Parliament by Labour MP Clayton Bartolo in a parliamentary question to Transport Minister Ian Borg. 

In his reply Dr Borg noted that the agency had spoken both to the contractors entrusted with this project and the affected farmers, and was taking all steps to resolve the matter as soon as possible.

However, when contacted, Mr Bartolo pointed out that action was only taken following his parliamentary question, adding that rubble walls and gates had been destroyed.

Last December the Times of Malta reported that Triq ir-Ramla had been widened by encroaching on virgin land but no permit had been sought, even though planning laws clearly lay down such a procedure is must in such cases.

This project had come to light through another parliamentary question from which it transpired that a tract of garigue land had been expropriated to widen the country road. At the time, no details were given on how much was paid to acquire the land, with the Transport Minister saying expropriation talks with the Lands Authority were still under way.

As for the reason behind widening the road, the minister said that it had become too narrow for safe access to the hotel, especially in emergency situations.

At the time, Infrastructure Malta said that dilapidated rubble walls were reconstructed in a recessed position, to improve the road’s alignment. No mention had been made to damage to third party properties.