Front Favur Il-Mina has said in a statement today that it is "deeply concerned with the recent change to the X1 route, the only express route from Cirkewwa to the centre of Malta."
It said that, firstly, the Mater Dei stop has been removed from the X1 route, thus Gozitan students living in Swatar, and additionally, Gozitans who must specifically go to Mater Dei Hospital, will have to seek alternative routes.
"Secondly, the journey to Cirkewwa will take longer, as the X1 bus now passes through the busy centre of Mellieha."
Previously, missing the ferry by a few minutes was a common occurrence, now this will become the norm, the Front said.
"For Gozitans, all this will mean an increase in hassle, waste of time and greater difficulty in planning their trips between the islands apart from the great inconveniences caused."
The Front has called on the authorities to re-evaluate the recent changes to this route and said that it hopes that there will be further changes in the coming days, so as to alleviate these problems.
Photograph: Alain Salvary