Localities hit hard by industrial development should be able to benefit from special funds to mitigate the negative impact, the Marsa mayor has urged.

Francis Debono said localities like his suffered the brunt of large industrial projects that had a detrimental effect on residents.

Marsa is home to an aged power station, oil recycling facilities and storage and is split in two by a major road artery.

Mr Debono made the call in the presence of Planning Parliamentary Secretary Michael Falzon and top Mepa officials during a short ceremony where several councils were given funds for urban improvement projects.

The funds came from Mepa's urban improvement fund, which is financed by payments from projects that do not make adequate provisions for parking in their plans.

Since inception in 2006 the fund has approved 262 projects, valued at €9 million, in various local councils.

This morning's press conference was held on the pedestrian bridge across December 13 Road in Marsa that was recently refurbished by funds from the UIF.

Mr Debono urged the authorities to consider creating a separate fund that would be premised on the polluter-pays principle so that councils could invest the money to improve residents' quality of life.

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