I would like to draw the Mellieha local council's attention to the nuisance that a gang of youngsters is causing to residents of Triq Napuljun Caruana Dingli when they use the public garden there. The gang is habitually misusing public property by playing football, vandalising public and private property adjacent to the garden, and shouting till late at night.

Signage at the garden clearly prohibits the playing of football. Equipment is being vandalised and garden furniture such as lampposts has fallen victim to stone-throwing by these youngsters. I myself have found my window panes broken on a number of occasions. Other residents have found deflated tyres and scratched cars.

Should not the council take it upon itself to carry out regular patrols by sending wardens, if not insisting with the police to send patrols, particularly on Friday and Saturday evenings? Residents have had enough of this nuisance.

It was a good thing for the council to have added a recreational area but it should see that it is used properly and not misused by vandals. Should it not start holding responsible those adults, under whose responsibility these youngsters fall, for damage to public property which was after all paid for by the council?

I have had to call the police to report the mischief on a number of occasions. The residents have had enough and we are asking the council to do its part since wrongdoing is resulting from a facility it has created. Or should we start holding it responsible for future damage we might suffer unless surveillance is carried out?