A privately-owned part of Gnejna Bay which is used as a caravan site is causing friction between the owners of the mobile homes and residents of nearby Mgarr.

The issue revolves around a piece of land in the tranquil bay, which is transformed into a caravan site every summer, much to the disgruntlement of the council, which cannot shift the caravans since the land is privately owned.

"You are causing a lot of frustration for Mgarr residents," mayor Paul Vella told two of the caravan owners yesterday morning.

But Pauline Deguara, one of the caravan owners, was quick to produce a letter permitting her to park her caravan in the area. She claimed it was signed by one of the owners of the land who did not ask for anything in return.

However, Nationalist MEP hopeful Alan Deidun, who yesterday held a press conference to highlight the problem in the area, was quick to point out that the letter had no value.

"You need to apply for a change in the use of the land from agricultural to a caravan site," he said.

Earlier, Dr Deidun said the entire bay was privately owned through a 200-year-old contract, but the owners had not paid much attention to the area in recent years. He was critical of the caravans' land use, which multiply during the summer, saying they had even built walls around their caravans.

Gary Cauchi, a father-of-two, said: "I do not want the government to give me any water or electricity - simply a piece of land where I can come with my wife and children, and I am willing to pay to use it."

One of the council's qualms is that the caravans are taking over an area which could be used for parking by people who go to the beach. When asked whether this would also be an infringement since the land was privately owned, the mayor argued that visitors left by the evening.

He also claimed that caravan owners had at times driven people away, something that was vehemently denied by Ms Deguara and Mr Cauchi. They also denied littering the area.

"We try to keep it as clean as possible because at the end of the day we want to enjoy it," Mr Cauchi said.