Front Ħarsien ODZ this afternoon reiterated its opposition to the development of
a shooting range at il-Busbesija in Mosta, saying the government’s decision to allocate this land to a group of Russian entrepreneurs was an example of how the common good was being sacrificed for private profit making interests.

The Front said the shooting range will occupy land the size of 14 football pitches, just 300 from the Mosta boys secondary school, close to residents, Mt St Joseph
retreat house and public roads. 

The Front welcomed the setting up of have set up a new organization called Mostin u Ħbieb Kontra s-Shooting Range and said Mosta local council should also declare its position. 

It pointed out that the site for the shooting range is an outside development zone (ODZ) and an area of high landscape value as designated in the Central Local Plan. 

“The government should immediately reverse its decision to allocate this area to U Group as this is clearly prejudicing MEPA’s future decisions,” the Front said.

It also called on government to consult the public on the use of the public land which it wants to allocate to private interests.

“It is clear that local communities have more important educational
and cultural needs than a shooting range,” it argued, adding that  the scale of any such development was unsustainable in a small country like Malta.