Two young Żurrieq farmers appear to have won their fight to protect their fields from a proposed road to cater a private development.Annalisa Schembri and Robert Bondin Carter both come from a long line of farmers who have tilled the government-owned land in the Tal-Bebbux area.However, their future was thrown into doubt when a nearby landowner proposed a project, including a road that would have cut through their fields.The farmers publicly pressured the government to save their land, including through a feature on Lovin Malta, and it looks like their efforts have finally paid off.When Owen Bonnici was appointed Lands Minister in May, Bondin Carter immediately reached out to him and the minister promptly set up a meeting with both farmers, Planning Minister Clint Camilleri, the Żurrieq local council and an NGO that represents the community.“We were all on the same page in this meeting,” Bondin Carter told Lovin Malta.“Although Owen Bonnici said that the council’s proposal to grant the land permanent protection was unnecessary, he pledged that the road wouldn’t be developed.”“The road was the marker of abuse and the fact it won’t happen is a true victory.”Bonnici confirmed the outcome of this meeting in Parliament.“We won’t permit any kind of development on government-owned agricultural land in Tal-Bebbux. Full stop, fresh line,” he said.PN MP Toni Bezzina welcomed the news and said the developer’s planning application proposing the construction of a road must now be withdrawn.•