Property owners object to Siġġiewi fireworks

Pyrotechnic enthusiasts will find out this morning whether they can let off fireworks for the feast of St Nicholas in Siġġiewi this weekend from a field they have been using for decades after a number of people who own property nearby asked a court to stop them.

The owners argued that the field, at Ta' Żgamerdi, just off Mqabba Road, was located too close to their property. Jason Mifsud, said he bred racehorses next door. Reno Scicluna, of the Malta Falconry Centre, said he raised birds, some of them protected species and other animals and even had a cafeteria next to the firing site. Maria Melita Agius, Susan Mamo and Carmelo Calleja said their properties lay a mere 30 to 60 metres away.

The five property owners filed their request against Francis Aquilina personally and Noel Agius and Christian Ciappara as president and secretary of Għaqda tan-Nar San Nikola.

The enthusiasts replied they had been using the area to let off fireworks for the past 30 years. They had been granted permission by the Commissioner of Police, so there was no reason for the court to issue the requested injunction. The court, they noted, had been called upon to decide on similar cases and had never granted an injunction.

Lawyer Robert Tufigno appeared for the residents.

Lawyer Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi appeared for the enthusiasts.