Why is it that elderly persons living in the north, who are still active and can still enjoy a quiet swim, cannot make use of the best part of the north coast past the Sliema area right up to the Fra Ben Restaurant, Qawra.

Sliema itself provides a good number of concrete footpaths leading to the sea. Most ladders are generally installed at the beginning of the swimming season.

Unfortunately, the paths need attention, particularly the worn concrete surface, and space for parking is very limited.

Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq, at White Rocks, offers a longish rocky beach. The road leading to the caravan site was surfaced with tarmac some time ago leaving a step on the seaside edge of the road, in some cases over 20 centimetres high, forcing people to park on the narrow road or else brave damaging the car by driving down the step to park. The beach itself provides access to the adventurous youngsters. From this point on, towards Qawra, a sizeable area is not good for swimming.

I have noticed that over the last 35 years or so, very little - if anything at all - was done along beaches such as White Rocks for the convenience of the public particularly those who cannot pay for membership or simply do not want to join a swimming club.

Every party in government seems to look after the interests of the money-making facilities, treating others as naïve people who do not matter at all.