Next door to Mount St Joseph Retreat House, Mosta, a shooting range is planned. It seems that the negotiations are in the last stages. This is a real shame.

Mount St Joseph is an oasis of peace and reflection. Hundreds of Maltese frequent this retreat house every year for retreats and other activities and return home refreshed. As far as I know, there was no public consultation about this matter.

The shooting range would surely be blatantly infringing the rights of the residents in the area, besides, of course, the Jesuit community at Mount St Joseph and all those who attend the many programmes there with regard to public peace.

I would like to quote what the Environmental Noise Directive (Directive 2002/49/EC) defines as one of its duties:

“One of the reporting obligations of the Environmental Noise Directive (Directive 2002/49/EC) is the generation of strategic noise maps. The purpose of strategic Noise Mapping is to (a) provide information to the public and decision-makers on noise exposure locally, nationally and internationally, (b) develop action plans for the purpose of managing noise exposure, and (c) assist the European Commission in future development of European noise policy.”

Is it possible that in the case of this shooting range the above directives do not apply?

Authorities concerned, please take note.

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