Alternattiva Demokratika has said that the public is being denied access to the only public garden in Victoria, Villa Rundle, from the entrance near the main car park.

It said that a ramp has been built in front of the gate to the public garden to allow access to the trucks involved in the redevelopment of the Duke of Edinburgh hotel.

To add insult to injury, a playing field used for football training and matches by many local youngsters, and which is adjacent to the road which links the car park to the garden, has been destroyed and is being used as working space for the trucks and machinery.

AD�s Gozo Regional Committee spokesman Victor Galea said the public had the right to know who had authorised the destruction of the playground, the blocking of the road linking the car park to the garden and the construction of the ramp in front of a gate to this public garden.

All the residents have the right to know who is giving the green light to such actions, which are riding roughshod over the rights of ordinary citizens to enjoy a popular public garden and playing field, he said.

AD said there is also a risk that the Gozo SPCA Rescue and Rehoming Centre could be forced to close down. As a result of the construction work that is taking place, nobody is visiting the centre.

Because of the work, volunteers taking the dogs for walks have to clamber over walls, as the exit road has been rendered unusable.

"No delivery vans can get to the Centre and even the SPCA rescue vehicle has to battle constantly for access. The situation now and for the foreseeable future is disastrous for this entirely voluntary society", said AD.