Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1523079
6 maltatoday | THURSDAY • 26 JUNE 2024 NEWS MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt New lane for vehicles headed toward Cirkewwa terminal completed INFRASTRUCTURE Malta (IM) has completed the con- struction of a lane for vehicles going from the Armier rounda- bout in Ċirkewwa to the Gozo Ferry terminal. In a statement on Tuesday, IM said that it carried out mainte- nance works on the road, adding that the expenditure on the lane totalled €7 million. The entity noted that the new lane, "will facilitate travel for people who want to cross the channel with- out blocking access to the area around the terminal for work- ers, public transport and traffic which is not Gozo-bound." IM said that the area was a major headache as it meant that emergency services and public transport vehicles could not pass when heavy traffic accu- mulates. The entity also attributed the need for the lane to record high travel between Malta and Gozo. Infrastructure minister Chris Bonett said that the opening of this lane means that Triq il-Marfa, which spans from the roundabout at the start of Għadira Bay to the Ċirkewwa terminal, "is completely new." IM said that the new lane is separated by concrete struc- tures, "which are certified to offer the best security possible." IM added that this also means more space can be utilised. The entity noted that cyclists were also kept in mind, saying that "certain zones in the exist- ing bike lane" were widened. Photo: Infrastructure Malta WHAT was supposed to be a cou- ple's most special day turned out to be the source of widespread anger this week, after a pile of gar- bage was left behind at Mellieħa's historic Red Tower more than 24 hours after the wedding. The wedding in question was lavish and grand, as MaltaToday understands that the db Group's David Debono was the groom. No expenses were spared, except maybe for the cleaning of the his- toric venue which borders a Natu- ra 2000 site. On Monday, environmental NGO, Malta Ranger Unit (MRU) reported the mess left behind to the police, after they further filed three reports to the Environmen- tal Resources Authority (ERA). The MRU noted that the law clearly states that following such an event, litter is to be collected 24 hours following the event. Footage and photos published by the MRU show the area remains covered in garbage bags, food, napkins and various forms of equipment, as the NGO noted that the stench from the food left in the sun was horrendous. This caused widespread outrage given the state of such a histor- ic and ecologically sensitive site. Many also noted that the garbage could have caused wildfires in light of the warm weather and dry conditions in the area. Following this, the groom as- sured this newspaper that the wedding was covered with all relative permits, adding that the permits, "included that the place is cleared and cleaned within an established period…" "It is normal for such a clearing and cleaning operation to take some time but we are committed to return the site in the possible condition," Debono concluded. After MaltaToday's report, par- liamentary secretary for cleans- ing Glenn Bedingfield announced that officials from the Cleansing and Maintenance Division went to the site to clean the area up, "despite the fact that this should have been done by someone else." In another twist, the db Group stated that when the Cleansing Division arrived, their contractors were in the middle of cleaning up. "No one asked the Cleansing Department personnel to get in- volved in the clean up and in fact they spent less than 5 minutes on site," a spokesperson clarified. When asked by MaltaToday whether the event's organisers had been handed a bill for collecting the trash, Bedingfield responded, "The Division was not employed by the organisers, as it acted on media reports we had seen." He concluded by calling for re- sponsibility. Following the public outrage, the spotlight was also shining on another environmental NGO, Din l-Art Ħelwa who was awarded guardianship of the historic site in 2003. In its statement, the NGO said that it will, "ensure that the site and surrounding areas will be completely cleaned up of all de- bris and litter and put back to its original state at the organiser's ex- pense." Din l-Art Ħelwa further assured the public that it will scrutinise the conditions for future events more carefully, "to ensure that these can be met and that they satisfy oth- er environmental concerns which have since surfaced." Garbage left behind following wedding at Red Tower to be cleared at organisers' expense The Malta Ranger Unit's footage showed the extent of the mess left behind at the historic Red Tower in Mellieha (Photo: Malta Ranger Unit) MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt