The Marsascala family park has been temporarily shut down after experts noted an acidic gas was being burnt at an adjacent recycling plant that developed a fault.

The decision was taken yesterday by the Environment Ministry, two months after Wasteserv started burning hydrogen sulphide gas, which smells of rotten eggs.

This practice began in May and coincided with an Environment Ministry-commissioned review into the Sant’Antnin recycling plant.

In a 64-page report published yesterday, the expert investigators asked for the park to be “out of bounds” until the fault is repaired.

“The technical fault is symptomatic of bad management and planning along the years as evidenced by correspondence the ministry received from previous Wasteserv directors,”the ministry said.

When burnt, hydrogen sulphide produces sulphur dioxide that can cause respiratory problems.

Lead expert Edward Mallia said that although the emissions were below EU limits, traces of the gas were recorded at the Malta Environment and Planning Authority’s air monitoring station in Żejtun.

But Opposition Environment spokesman George Pullicino said the Government had to explain why it took nine weeks to close the park.

“Is it truly because emissions are dangerous or has the Government run out of funds to man the park and is using this incident as an excuse?”

He said sulphur dioxide from passing diesel vehicles was “probably higher” than the amount produced by the plant and the Environment Ministry should start working rather than commissioning reports.