Last Thursday at about 6.30 p.m. I went to the Marsa athletic track (Matthew Micallef St John Athletic Stadium) for my usual half hour of jogging/walking.

To my astonishment, a security officer asked me to produce the membership card.

I replied that I had no membership card.

He politely handed me an application form.

I asked whether I could use the track on that day but he replied in the negative.

He advised me to fill in the application, submit it against a payment and then I would receive a membership card entitling me to use the track.

He added that I cannot use the track until I have the card in hand.

All those who frequent the track know that hundreds of people from different age groups visit this track regularly.

For all those who remember, access to the Marsa grounds was permitted after 1979.

I understand that the committee is incurring expenses to run the track (I am not sure whether they have been granted any money from the government) but since use of the track has been free for the last 19 years I think that the committee should have second thoughts about introducing any tariffs.

On the other hand, they can introduce payment against the use of showers (after upgrading) and the gym facilities, but let us leave the track free as it was!