«We have never expressed an opinion on the merits of the work, we have always said that we are called to express an opinion on the project. We have always said that a construction project is missing, which is much more important for the city of Villa San Giovanni than the Bridge itself. Villa must survive the construction site, continuing to play the role of transport hub. Ours is not a value judgment, we are not anarchists, we know that the decision depends on the Government, we are simply trying to protect the city and the Strait.” Words and music by the mayor of Villa Giusy Caminiti, who yesterday participated in the program “San Giorgio e il drago” hosted by Maurizio Insardà on Antenna Febea. On the appeal presented together with the metropolitan mayor Giuseppe FalcomatàCaminiti explained that «it is not an appeal against the Bridge, but concerns the Via-Vas procedures. With respect to this, the EU’s exemption must be given explicitly. Here we are talking about traffic and we have raised a legitimacy flaw, this is not going against the work. It’s wanting to ask for greater attention. We are still waiting for the decree from the Minister of the Environment, from Minister Salvini, the two conferences have closed and we have not raised any objections. When I met Salvini, he told me: “I know that you have to protect the city, we will make sure to help you”. We have noticed the political will, but not a project.”
The Northern League senator has a completely different opinion Tilde Minasi: «The Bridge is not used to connect Reggio and Messina but it revolutionizes the role of transport. The funds for the high-speed train are there, there will not be a curve to get to Cosenza but a straight path, because it will allow the works to be speeded up. Work is underway, the money has not been touched, there is a lot of fake news. From the first moment we had a good relationship with Mayor Caminiti. It is clear that you must protect the territory, but there is attention to avoid inconvenience to the Municipality of Villa. Then it is normal that it is the city that will have to undergo the work, but it will be protected. However, the work must be done, not only for the infrastructure itself, but for a whole series of infrastructures that otherwise would not be built, starting with High Speed. And then it’s not like if we don’t build the Bridge we’ll leave the roads like this in Sicily. The Ministry has also invested a lot of money on the SS 106. Salvini is too determined, the money is there, the work will start this year.”
