Corradino Sports Complex manager Ronnie Calleja has appealed for grit blasting in the area to stop, saying it is a health hazard and disrupting the complex.

The appeal came in the wake of grit blasting  on Thursday that left parts of the sports complex covered in black dust.

Following enquiries by the media, Malta Industrial Parks, which manages the industrial zone, halted the operation.  

The directors of the sports complex are considering suing the contractor who carried out the works. 

Mr Calleja said the alarm bells went off when, a few days ago, heavy equipment was placed at a plot of land adjacent to the complex. He was told the material was oil rig paraphernalia and would remain there up to Monday.

The initial impact of the grit blasting was partially mitigated by the eastern wind which carried the dust particles away from the complex but the situation soon worsened when the wind started blowing from the opposite direction.

“The noise emanating from the blasting site was deafening and a cloud of black dust soon covered an outdoor basketball court to the point that all activities had to be cancelled,” he said.