Architects forget to include bulbs in Żebbuġ road tender

Żebbuġ’s main thoroughfare has been left in the dark since November after the architect forgot to make provisions for the procurement of bulbs in the tender, The Sunday Times has learnt. The €1.2 million project in Vjal il-Ħelsien had been described by the local council as a ‘state of the art showcase’ of Grandmaster’s De Rohan’s city. But after residents and motorists had to endure months of dust and inconvenience until the road was completed, the project has another hitch. Although many new lighting poles have been erected, the council said the architects preparing the tender failed to seek Enemalta’s permission, as they were obliged to, before increasing road lighting. The architects are Med Design Associates, a company owned by Labour MP and former minister Charles Buhagiar. A number of Vjal il-Ħelsien residents said their complaints to the council fell on deaf ears. “It’s an accident waiting to happen. I cannot understand how you can leave lighting poles without bulbs for such a long time. Is it such a big deal after spending more than a €1 million for a 500-metre road?” a businessman said. When contacted, a spokesman for the council admitted the situation was “embarrassing”...