Positive and not-so-positive

For the last 16 years we have been coming to Malta for our annual summer holiday and, apart from the guaranteed sunshine, we have always enjoyed the friendliness of the Maltese people, having made several good friends over the years. We have of course seen many changes, particularly in the Bugibba/Qawra area where we stay, most being for the good, but some not so good.

On the positive side there is the new much-improved bus station, a number of new shops and restaurants and the excellent promenade. On the negative side, however, the rocky area opposite the New Dolmen Hotel and adjacent to the Lido has for many years been in need of improvement as a convenient area for sunbathing and swimming. It is always covered with litter, including broken glass, and the pools of stagnant water give a very bad impression. This is in complete contrast with the rocky beach area on the other side of the Lido, which is always clean and attracts many people, tourists and locals. Surely something could be done to improve the beach in general!

The promenade has lately been suffering from dog fouling and general dropping of litter, despite the provision of bins at various points along it. In the UK it is an offence to allow dogs to foul pavements and other areas, punishable by a fine of up to £500, and local councils have the power to issue spot fines for litter dropping in public areas. People should be encouraged to take responsibility for keeping their streets clean, both for their own sakes and to show pride in their surroundings.

We have also seen a worsening of the problem of large amounts of rubbish being dumped in the growing number of derelict areas, such as those where buildings have been demolished or which are simply left for years with no one apparently responsible for them. Surely the owners should be made liable to clear rubbish and keep them tidy, or alternatively the councils could employ people to keep them tidy. This kind of thing really gives tourists a very bad impression of the island and, from our regular reading of The Times, it is attracting many letters of complaint from the Maltese themselves.

Despite the above criticism, however, we will continue to visit Malta regularly and maintain our valued friendships and we hope that in time things will improve in these areas so that they do not detract from the overall beauty of the Maltese islands.