A new association for Paceville clubs, shops and restaurants has been set up to help improve the area together with the authorities.

Legal representative Maria Cardona said the Paceville Commercial Establishment Association was open to all types of businesses in the area.

“It’s not only for nightclub or bar owners but for the people who own a restaurant, souvenir shop, take-away or snack bar, for example,” Dr Cardona explained.

The association, which is also represented by lawyer Emmanuel Mallia, “wants to ensure that the interests of all these people are safeguarded”.

It wants to work towards improving the safety of the people who go there, the embellishment of the area and the residents’ well-being, Dr Cardona added.

Headed by restaurateur Mark Grima as president, the association has been two years in the making. It is estimated that it already has about 75 members.

Dr Cardona said that the association wanted to liaise with the police, the local council and with the authorities and be present when decisions affecting the area were taken.

“It seems that Paceville is a sort of taboo subject and this shouldn’t be the case. There is a lot of bad publicity about the area,” Dr Cardona said.

Among other things, the association will campaign for an equal footing in terms of enforcement. “I can’t understand why Paceville clubs are made to close because the music is too loud while clubs in other areas don’t have to.”

The association was not “in competition” with other organisations representing Paceville business but wanted to work “in tandem” with them, she said.