Watch: Marsalforn rubble tipping was legal... but not in line with ERA method statement

Updated at 7.20pm: adds PA statement Footage of a truckful of sand and rubble being dumped at Marsalforn Bay on Thursday has gone viral on social media. Two workers are seen casually tipping the rubble into the water in broad daylight to the surprise of onlookers. But while this angered many, a spokesman for the Gozo Ministry clarified that this was an annual process covered by a permit from the Environment and Resources Authority. Sub-contracted workers were clearing sediment which was pushed up into the valley from the sea. This would prevent flooding in winter, the spokesman said. However, even though the tipping was legal, the workers were still stopped by the ministry because they were not following the method statement as established by the ERA. The sub-contractors this year decided to follow a method as shown in the video while in previous year a mechanical shovel used to push the material into the sea from under the bridge. Although there was an attempt at explaining what was actually being done on Facebook, questions were raised asking why the rubble was being dumped into the sea and why the exercise was being carried out at the peak of the swimming season. A Facebook...