Some 50 Mosta residents this evening announced that a new group - Mostin u Hbieb Kontra s-Shooting Range - had been set up.

The group’s aim is to persuade civil authorities that a range should not be built so close to residents, public roads and a school.

Addressing a news conference outside the Mosta boys secondary school, which was some 300 metres away from proposed range, Bernard Grech said residents were not against idea of the shooting range but it should not be built so close to residents.

The proposed range, he said, would be the size of 14 football pitches and would include six ranges with a total of 65 shooting positions.

He said that residents’ concern was not just the noise volume but the fact that it would be continuous. He compared the noise to a dripping tap, saying the sound would become unbearable if constant.

Dr Grech also expressed concern about residents’ mental and physical health. Property experts, he said, wanted them that the value of their properties would likely go down.

Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

He said the developers were trying to assure residents there as no need for concern “but residents are concerned”.

Lara Sammut said “even if we decide to leave, no one will want to buy our houses. If the outside development zone land has to be taken it should be for something that benefits whole community and not a few private investors”.

Dr Grech called on the local council to take a stand pointing out that while a number of councillors had said they were against the project in private, the council had not yet taken a position.

He called on the mayor to step up and take a clear and unequivocal stand against the shooting range saying that if the council did not oppose the range, it would have failed in its responsibility to residents.

Deputy mayor Ivan Bartolo, Mosta’s vice-mayor, was present for the conference but he did not speak. He has however written against the project in the media.