The company which had proposed the building of a shooting range near Mt St Joseph Retreat House in Busbesija, Mosta, said this evening that it had not been officially notified by the government why its proposal had been rejected, and it was therefore seeking a meeting.

U Group Malta Limited said it today received a scanned copy of a letter by email from the Government Property Department within the Office of the Prime Minister stating that is has been decided “that negotiations are not to continue any further.” .

"The communication received does not make reference to the grounds which have led to such decision. In this light, U Group Malta Limited has requested a meeting with the aforementioned department for clarifications," the company said.

Times of Malta reported on Sunday that the bid had been rejected because it did not meet financial requirements. The government confirmed the decision and the reason on Monday, saying that talks would start with the second preferred bidder for the site, a company which proposed to set up a retreat house with agrotourism facilities.