3rd September 2025
Friends of the Earth Malta, together with several other organisations and concerned residents have joined under the campaign “Is-Swar tal-Kottonera: Passaġġ fil-Pajsaġġ” and have today announced the launch of a crowdfunding campaign to fund legal challenges against the proposed road between Ħaż-Żabbar and Kalkara. The proposed road would slice through agricultural land, destroy thriving nature, and sever the historic bastion walls from their context.
“In the midst of a busy and populated area lies a quiet green path – a space of peace, nature and heritage – and now it is under threat. We need the public’s help to save it,” the coalition said, announcing the campaign on social media.
This path, which begins at Notre Dame Gate (Bieb is-Sultan) and winds along the bastions, has long been used by locals as a nature and heritage trail. Despite neglect, illegal dumping and vandalism, the area continues to flourish with greenery, wildlife, and walkers seeking peace of mind. With some basic care, the trail could be transformed into a much-loved pathway for surrounding communities.
“The cherry on the cake is that this road is completely unnecessary,” said Sarah Schembri, a spokesperson for the campaign. “Even at peak hours, there is no congestion between Kalkara and Ħaż-Żabbar. The road would shave off barely two minutes of travel time, at the cost of nature, history, and people’s wellbeing. It is absurd to sacrifice our last remaining open spaces for such short-term convenience.”
The organisations emphasised that rather than building a destructive road, authorities should be investing in the preservation and restoration of the trail as a nature and heritage walk – something that would improve the health, environment, and quality of life of thousands of residents and visitors.
The public is invited to contribute to the crowdfunding campaign here: https://whydonate.com/fundraising/passaggfilpajsagg
Or via a bank transfer to this account:
BOV
Name: Moviment Graffitti
IBAN: MT27VALL22013000000011799516027
The organisations involved in this campaign are: Moviment Graffitti, Friends of the Earth Malta, Azzjoni: Tuna Artna Lura, and concerned residents.
PR MT
Koalizzjoni Tniedi Kampanja ta’ Crowdfunding biex tappella d-deċiżjoni dwar triq f’Ħaż-Żabbar
3 ta’ Settembru 2025
Friends of the Earth Malta, flimkien ma diversi organizzazzjonijiet u residenti kkonċernati ngħaqdu taħt il-kampanja “Is-Swar tal-Kottonera: Passaġġ fil-Pajsaġġ” u llum ħabbru t-tnedija ta’ kampanja ta’ crowdfunding biex jiffinanzjaw sfidi legali kontra t-triq proposta bejn Ħaż-Żabbar u l-Kalkara. It-triq proposta se tieħu art agrikola, teqred in-natura, u tifred is-swar storiċi mill-kuntest tagħhom.
“Fil-qalba ta’ żona b’popolazzjoni għolja u traffikuża hemm mogħdija kwieta – spazju ta’ paċi, natura u wirt storiku – li issa tinsab mhedda. Biex insalvawha għandna bżonn l-għajnuna tal-pubbliku,” qalet il-koalizzjoni, waqt it-tnedija tal-kampanja fuq il-xandir soċjali.
Din il-mogħdija, li tibda minn Bieb is-Sultan u timxi tul is-swar, ilha tintuża mir-residenti bħala mogħdija fin-natura. Minkejja n-nuqqas ta’ ħarsien, ir-rimi illegali tal-iskart u l-vandaliżmu, iż-żona tkompli tistgħana bil-ħdura, il-fawna, u n-nies li jmorru mixja għal daqsxejn serħan il-moħħ. B’ftit ħarsien bażiku, il-mogħdija tista’ ssir passaġġ maħbub mill-komunitajiet tal-madwar.
“Iċ-ċirasa fuq il-kejk hija li m’hemm l-ebda bżonn għal din it-triq,” qalet Sarah Schembri, kelliema għall-kampanja. “Anke fil-ħinijiet l-aktar traffikużi ma jkun hemm konġestjoni bejn il-Kalkara u Ħaż-Żabbar. It-triq bilkemm tqassar żewġ minuti sewqan, għad-detriment tan-natura, l-istorja, u s-saħħa tan-nies. Huwa assurd li nissagrifikaw l-aħħar spazji miftuħa li fadal għal konvenjenza daqshekk żgħira.”
L-organizzazzjonijiet enfasizzaw li minflok ma tinbena triq, l-awtoritajiet għandhom jinvestu fil-preservazzjoni u r-restawr tal-mogħdija bħala Passaġġ fil-Pajsaġġ – xi ħaġa li ttejjeb l-ambjent, is-saħħa, u l-kwalità tal-ħajja ta’ eluf ta’ residenti u viżitaturi.
Il-pubbliku huwa mistieden jikkontribwixxi għall-kampanja ta’ crowdfunding hawn: https://whydonate.com/fundraising/passaggfilpajsagg
Jew permezz ta’ trasferiment bankarju għal dan il-kont:
BOV
Isem: Moviment Graffitti
IBAN: MT27VALL22013000000011799516027
L-organizzazzjonijiet involuti f’din il-kampanja huma: Moviment Graffitti, Friends of the Earth Malta, Azzjoni: Tuna Artna Lura, u r-residenti.