Capricious authorities

I do not normally put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard!) in order to express my opinions or grumble about some fact or other which has galled me. However, having just spent a glorious week in Gozo I cannot but break with the norm and publicise my major gripe.

When I am in Gozo I tend to spend a large number of hours in Marsalforn. Apart from the obvious delights of the place I have found it convenient to let my children run around the beach during the day as they decide whether to fish, swim or play as they wish. This is why I plonk my umbrella and deck-chairs on the pebble beach just beyond the bridge over the valley that crosses Marsalforn (Il-Wied).

The first two days were lazily blissful, then halfway through the third day a change in the wind direction brought a change to the air on the beach. Suddenly a horrendous smell from the direction of the valley made everybody reach for something to cover their noses.

Of course, we eventually moved to another part of the beach. I qualify without any problems as a Maltese gemgem but there are times when the situation goes beyond a simple grumble. Marsalforn has to be one of the most frequented areas in Gozo both in daytime as well as night-time. Of course, the smell does not depend on the hours of sunshine but merely on the whims of the wind.

Apparently it also depends on the whims of the authorities concerned.

I have been told that some Marsalforn residents and frequent visitors have informed the authorities concerned about the problem which, apparently, stems from the dirt and stale water in the vicinity of the bridge.

The area underneath the bridge has been left in this state for weeks/months. In fact, I have this horrible feeling that this is never cleaned except when the natural forces of wind and water clear it up!

To whoever is responsible I have but one word - shame!