The Sliema Residents Association, which has recently been vociferous about overdevelopment in the locality, has turned its attention to the problem of noise and air pollution.

The association expressed its disappointment that the authorities were trailing behind in their EU commitments on environmental matters and even intended to request an extension, until June 2011, in meeting the EU limits on air pollution matters.

Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas recently said Malta intended to request exemption from EU rules on air quality and PM10 particulate traffic pollution until mid-2011.

The residents' association said pollution was the consequence of the town's unsustainable development, which progressively generated unsustainable traffic. It said it was ironic that overdevelopment has been authorised by the planning authority, which was also responsible for monitoring air quality.

Last week, the association called for a balance between the demands of the environment and construction and blamed development for all the town's concerns.

It said overpopulation, arising from the concentration of housing units in prime areas, compounded the problems associated with insensitive town planning and unsustainable development, including traffic issues.