Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party said in a statement today that “Government should give more assistance to local councils in order that they can better provide community services.”

Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said, “Local Councils are facing increasing costs for their operations, and given that they are restricted in the generation of revenue, they are facing shortages of funds. Inevitably, this effects essential services such as those provided to the community.”

Carmel Cacopardo, AD Spokesperson for Sustainable Development and Home Affairs said, “Local Councils are not being given enough assistance by the Government in order to provide the necessary community services. This is leading a number of Local Councils, such as that of Marsascala, into considering to act as developers, in order to generate funds, so as to be able to provide better services to the community.”

“Government passed this Garden on to the Local Council in Marsascala, and the Council was considering works on this garden together with the private sector, in order to regenerate it. Fortunately, the Local Council took public opinion into consideration and did away with such plans. There is now only the thought of building administrative offices for the Council in part of this garden, in accordance with the MEPA permit issued in 2009.”

“Alternattiva Demokratika is of the opinion that no development should take place in this garden, as it is one of the few open spaces left in this ever-growing locality, which has now become a concrete jungle. Yet unfortunately, if Government fails to give Local Councils the necessary means, they shall have no other alternative than to act as developers,” he concluded.

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