An article in The Times of April 25, 2007, Ghajn Tuffieha Tower In Danger Of Collapse reported on a study (conducted through a joint collaboration between the University of Malta, the Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia and the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche in Padova) that showed that there are areas in the northwest coast of Malta where there are signs of land movement. Of particular concern were the references to the historic tower in the title and to Popeye Village, which is said to be "situated on landslides found to be moving".

Since then there has been no reference to this situation to reassure the public that steps have been taken to mitigate the danger, or that the area is being seriously monitored by a competent authority. What authority is responsible for such matters?

In the meantime Popeye Village is still open to visitors, parties continue to be organised there and schools take classes on outings. Is this an accident waiting to happen? I took this report very seriously and refused permission when my daughter's class visited the area.

As things stand, basing on the findings of that research, a parent cannot be reassured that there is definitely no danger in sending a child on an outing there. On the other hand, if there is really no danger, I, and perhaps other parents like me, are unnecessarily denying our children an enjoyable outing.

What is really lacking, and what I am asking for, is concrete information.