Reflections on Xemxija Bay development

To continue on Joseph R. Fenech's letter (August 8), one item that must be mentioned is the embellishment of the coastal promenades and general area surrounding Xemxija Bay. It has been over two years since a project(!) was started - the promenade from Il-Veccja to Pwales is being embellished.

Unfortunately, it seems that no resources are being dedicated to make this project come to an end. In two years, less that half a kilometre has been embellished and of this about 100 metres are still not completely finished. A quick walk will immediately show the amount of pending work that remains.

The total promenade of Xemxija Bay, which starts from Il-Veccja and ends near the Fekruna area, is about two to three kilometres long. At this rate, we might have the whole promenade embellished in about five years. This promenade is one of the nicest and is less rowdy than the Bugibba and Sliema promenades, which are overcrowded in the summer months.

Why is it taking so long to complete? The Bugibba/Qawra promenade, albeit not with perfect results, was embellished in four months. Why is it that a promenade less than half the size has taken eight times as much time and is still only partly finished?

One may also wish to have a look at the pathway beneath the main promenade. Parts of it are disintegrating and have never been in such a pitiful state.

The part underneath Id-Dellija area is failing to cope with the traffic associated with the vehicles proceeding towards Il-Veccja moorings and the repairs have been shoddy, to say the least.

Mr Fenech also mentioned re-inventing Pwales beach on the St George's Bay experience. Being realistic, I am aware that it might be difficult to declare the Pwales beach area as being fit for swimming unless serious measures are taken to control the pollution seeping in the bay.

The main pollution sources are three. Firstly, the drainage which seeps in the bay as soon as something happens to the pumping station within the Simar area. Secondly is the amount of pollution generated by the large number of boats that are kept within the bay itself. The third source of pollution is the fish farm located just outside Mistra Bay. Unless all these are properly cared for, I see the idea of re-inventing the beach as being far-fetched. It would be desirable though!

As for the issue of marinas, this has been coming to light every few years. Reorganising the bay might be a good idea but to be realistic the bay in winter is badly affected by the northeastern winds and thus the expenditure needed to construct the marina would turn into a multi-million lira investment. There is space in some sheltered places like the Veccja and Mistra but the Xemxija Bay is too exposed.

Also, the development in this area is ruining the previously picturesque view that it once commanded. Nowadays, eight- and more storey buildings are being built on both sides of the bay, something that the Malta Environment and Planning Authority seems to be approving.

The Xemxija Hill area has also been overdeveloped and has today taken over the whole Gholja l-Bajda area, save for the area which supposedly houses the old Punic tombs, unless these have been entombed themselves under the high-rise box-like flats.

But as soon as a place is spoilt, the postcards with "Malta in the past" come out and soon we will have the Xemxija postcard which you will not identify from the current overdeveloped and shabby Xemxija there is now.