Illegal road to Gharb fireworks factory could be widened

A country road illegally widened in recent years could be widened even further to facilitate access to a firework factory in Gharb.

The factory’s owners, Michael Caruana and the Ghaqda tan-Nar 31 ta’Mejju, want sanctioning of the 125-long path to ensure safe access to the factory approved in 2018.

An enforcement order against the illegal widening of the path was already issued in 2009.

The 5000 sq.m factory, located in an area designated for its high landscape value, was approved despite strong objections by the Environment and Resources Authority in 2018.

The country road existed prior to 1968, but part of it was widened illegally in recent years before the application for the fireworks factory was even presented.

An ad hoc committee assessing the safety aspects of fireworks factories had stipulated an access of 3.7m for emergency vehicles. For that reason the permit was issued on condition that widening is regularised together with other “required improvements”.