The Mosta council is yet to take a stand on the proposed controversial shooting range in the vicinity of a popular retreat house on the outskirts of the village, according to the mayor.
Edwin Vassallo said the council had accepted a request by the Jesuit community to hold a public meeting on the matter during which members of the public can voice their concerns over the proposed project.
Although the council had yet to take a position, Mr Vassallo let it slip out that “hopefully” the project will be relocated.
Jesuit provincial Patrick Magro is expected to attend the meeting, planned for Thursday at 7.30pm at the council’s offices, to explain to the council why the shooting range so close to the retreat house will mar the tranquillity the house has enjoyed for decades.
A final decision by the authorities is yet to be taken on the controversial plan. The Jesuit community at the Mount St Joseph retreat house on the outskirts of Mosta is objecting to plans to open a shooting range at a disused former military installation in the vicinity, saying this would undermine the serene atmosphere of the place. The Jesuits are concerned that the noise generated by the firearms would negatively affect some 10,000 people who visit each year.
The project is being proposed bya consortium named U-Group, and the development would span an area of some 300 metres.
This comes after an expression of interest from the Land Department in 2013 for the use of the derelict military installation at Tal-Busbesija, Mosta.
Mr Vassallo said Fr Magro’s request for a public meeting was discussed at the last council meeting and the councillors unanimously agreed to organise a public hearing. “Our position as a council is the commitment to listen to people’s concerns. The council also agreed to leave politics out of the issue and is open to holding a similar meeting with the developers. We want to have as much dissemination of information as possible,” he said.
“The council has no position yet because we have not yet heard the pros and cons, especially from the technical aspect.
After listening to concerns and the proposals we will take the decisions that need to be taken.
“The council must be the people’s spokesman,” he said.
Asked whether he had received any feedback on the project so far, Mr Vassallo said the council was hearing concerns from people, including a group of students from Maria Reġina who went to speak to him.
“The public hearing is the right forum where these concerns should be aired,” he said.
Meanwhile, the hunters’ federation yesterday said it supported the “much awaited and promised” project, as many of its members also practice various target shooting disciplines, such as clay-pigeon shooting.
In a short statement, the federation said the range “will not disturb the retreat house in any negative manner”.