My compliments to the Government on its apparent fast-track decision to increase the bedstock in tourist areas. Building two more hotel floors is bound to benefit the economy.

The authorities also seem to be wise in protecting areas of historical and architectural importance, much neglected in the past, like Tigné point.

But what about the quality of life of Maltese citizens? Who is going to protect the environment in urban tourist areas with diminishing sunshine hours?

With the high rises all along the Sliema seafront, beaches in Qui-si-Sana and Tower Road are already denied sunshine for most of the day. As many residents know, this northern coast faces the onslaught of wet and cold winds, especially in winter, the effects of which are normally relieved by intervals of warm sunshine. Residential apartments in side streets, most of them narrow, also benefit from being touched by the sun, unfortunately much less in recent years with rising buildings.

Two more floors on the many hotels on the Sliema-St Julian’s skyline might not appear to create much of a negative intrusion but in this thickly built suburb, where humidity is exceptionally high, it is bound to threaten the quality of life.

Let’s hope this aspect – not forgetting alternative energy programmes using sun hours – is not neglected when impact studies are carried out before permits are issued.