A forum for Cottonera residents has been set up to cater for their needs, claiming many aspects of the original Dock One regeneration project had been abandoned.

“Recently, a number of residents living in Cospicua were awakened by the sound of trucks and machinery and observed, in amazement, as a line of well-established trees alongside Dock One were swiftly felled,” the Friends of Cottonera Forum said.

After contacting various sources for a copy of the regeneration project plans, the forum said it found that community programmes for the local residents, which had been included in the original plans, had been abandoned.

Asking why local communities were not consulted, the forum said a string of events motivated the residents to set up a group “to act as a monitoring and advocacy group for sensitive heritage preservation as well as transparent, controlled and sympathetic development through better-informed residents and users of the area”.

The forum, set up a few days ago, will represent Cospicua, Vittoriosa, Senglea and Kalkara residents and is supported by a number of NGOs.

The first public meeting of the forum will take place on Thursday at 6 p.m. at The Birmula Heritage, St Margaret Street, Cospicua. To reserve a seat call 9987 6005 or send an e-mail to cottonera.forum@gmail.com.