Gżira Balcony Danger Was Reported To Police Last December – But No Action Was Taken
Gżira’s local council had reported a dangerous-looking balcony, which collapsed on a busy pavement during today’s bout of bad weather, to the police last December.
An email shows that the council informed the police that a balcony in Triq ix-Xatt was at risk of collapse all the way back on 17th December.
However, no action was taken, and the balcony collapsed earlier today.
“These matters have to be taken seriously; there are lives at risk and immediate action has to be taken,” mayor Conrad Borg Manche told Lovin Malta.
“The council has no enforcement arm like all local governments in Europe we and the people are at their mercy.”
Footage sent to Lovin Malta shows debris from the balcony strewn across the pavement, with some parts of the balcony hanging off the first floor.
“Thank God no one was walking under the balcony when it collapsed as people are always walking or jogging there,” a Gżira business owner said.
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“We heard a loud bang and thought something had happened next door because there are works being carried out on the building. “
“We went out to see what happened and initially thought someone had fallen from an upper floor onto the scaffolding – but then we saw that the balcony had collapsed.”
Cover photo: Left: The original state of the balcony at Triq ix-Xatt, Right: The balcony collapsed on the pavement today
Should local councils be given law enforcement powers?