How pleasing it was to learn that Mellieħa had been given the European award of Destination of Excellence. This, however, would not apply to Għadira in the vicinity of the Tunnara Museum and Dawret it-Tunnara.

My husband and I had been coming on holiday to Malta for 20 years, and some 17 months ago we decided to settle here. We have enjoyed every moment, and

especially the hospitality of the Maltese. However it both saddens and angers me to see irresponsible dog owners who allow their pets to foul these areas.

What is worse is when I hear tourists and Maltese residents complaining about the amount of dog excrement in the area, especially those with children who are walking just a few steps ahead of their parents and accidentally tread in this mess.

The local council is trying its best by putting bins for rubbish for the benefit of those, among others, who hold barbecues on the little beach, although we are still not sure where the coals end up as there are no charcoal bins, but most people make a point of leaving the area in a reasonably tidy state. That is not a problem.

A few do collect their dogs’ mess and use these bins. The council has also engaged a street cleaner with a wheelie bin, although possibly not every day. This person is there to collect bits of rubbish from the streets and not dog mess.

I have been told that the main culprits, but not all, are the ­summer residents who stay here for a couple of months.

I did suggest some weeks back that ‘doggy bins’ are placed in these areas; these have still not materialised, but the question is, would they be used?

The Tunnara Museum is supposed to be an attraction for both tourists and Maltese visitors. What a shame they are greeted by a ‘runway’ of dog mess and to hear them complaining.

I appeal to those responsible to have a little more consideration and thought, not just for the visitors, but also for the residents who are left with the smell and flies which this mess attracts, and more importantly the diseases it can bring.