The Gzira local council is considering taking legal action against the Midi consortium for denying the public access to certain areas of Manoel Island.

Mayor Anthony Abela told a news conference yesterday the council would do its utmost to ensure the public had access to recreational areas.

The council, Mr Abela said, wrote to the Midi's chief executive Benjamin Muscat on August 17 requesting the reinstatement of access on various points of the island.

However, according to the mayor, Mr Muscat refused a council request for a meeting and the council was not even invited to make its views heard during a consultation meeting between the consortium and the government.

Contacted by The Times, a spokesman for Midi said Mr Muscat was abroad and would not be available for comment before Monday.

According to the law, Mr Abela said, only the government could close public access, particularly along the seafront. Third parties given property by the government which included public passageways had no right to deny access to the public.

He said the security guards currently controlling access to public places should instead ensure there was no squatting, vandalism and dumping of illegal waste.

Mr Abela also spoke about other problems in the locality including prostitution at the public garden along the seafront

On August 30, the council held a meeting with Police Superintendent Ray Vella Gregory with whom it discussed the problem of prostitution in the garden and surrounding area. The police pledged their support.

On September 15, the council discussed the upgrading of the playing area with an official of the Malta Playing Fields Association. The council was now waiting to be told what maintenance could be carried out.