Barely two months after a group of cubs and other volunteers devoted hours to cleaning up St Thomas Bay in Marsascala, its beauty is marred with waste and litter strewn carelessly along the beach.
Marsascala residents have vented their frustration, describing the experience of lounging on the beach as being akin to “sitting in an ashtray, with plastic bottles and crisp packets added for good measure”.
Gaynor Hunt, founder of Friends of Marsascala, which brings together 200 residents, expressed her disgust at the mounds of rubbish littering the popular beach.
She referred to May’s clean-up, organised by Nature Trust, which included the involvement of the group and Tarxien cubs.
“We were so proud – we had filled a skip to its very brim. Now it’s absolutely disgusting – bottles, needles, pregnancy test kits, Durex, you name it. All of that will end up in the sea.”
If they can take the trouble to put it in mounds, surely it cannot be so much harder to dispose of it.
Group members Lyn and Clive Phillips said they were most alarmed by the amount of broken glass on the sand.
“It is only a matter of time before a serious accident happens. There has to be a person responsible for cleaning the area on a daily basis, as happens in most countries.”
Marilyn Borg condemned the adults responsible for leaving their rubbish behind them, setting a bad example to the young children who had worked so hard to clean up the bay.
“How do we expect children to learn from their elders? We are the only island lucky enough to have two refuse collections a day and free household bulky refuse from the local councils.
“It just makes no sense and makes me so angry.”
Another part of Marsascala that left much to be desired, was the open space at Bella Vista, according to Pauline and John Gunns.
The council had cleared up all the litter last autumn, but it has once again returned to its former filthy state. Rats have been spotted on site.
They urged all visitors to take responsibility for their litter and to clear up after themselves.
Gillian and Laurie Galea referred to the mounds of seaweed heaped on the beach.
“If they can take the trouble to put it in mounds, surely it cannot be so much harder to dispose of it.
“We believe this area has to be one of the most neglected areas of Malta and looks like many Third World countries we have visited.
“Shame on the people who continue to trash this area and on the authorities for not ensuring this area is cleaned up on a regular basis. It should be a clean, safe area for everyone to enjoy.”