The new public transport service introduced in July was exposing residents close to the Paola 1 bus stop to an increase in emissions and noise pollution leading them not to enjoy their properties to the full, the local council and the Hibernians Football Club said.

This morning, they filed a judicial protest against Arriva, Transport Malta and the Transport Ministry.

They said that the council had been against the continuation of use of this bus stop in Antoine de Paul Square.

A news conference held after the protest was filed was told that around 66 buses an hour passed through this stop.

However, the judicial protest noted that the noise report showed that 144 buses a day passed through this stop, 25 of them at night.

Some of them waited at this stop for up to five minutes with their engine on.

Since the introduction of the new service started an increase in emissions and noise pollution could be noted and the buses were identified as the source.

This was prejudicing residents and people who used the area. Residents were suffering economic damages as they were not enjoying their property to the max as was their right.

The protest noted that according to World Health Organisation guidelines for community noise individuals should not be exposed to more than 30 decibels of noise when measures from the inside and 50 decibels when measured outside during the day. At night these went down to 30 and 45.

The average noise at this bus stop was 85 decibels but rates of 102 were also reached.

The council and the club held the company, the authority and the ministry responsible for any possible damages. They said they were willing to take the issue further.