A group of senior citizens have joined forces to protest about the lack of facilities, space and privacy in their new Qawra day centre.
"Since we moved there in January, we can no longer practice our crafts. In our old centre, in the heart of St Paul's Bay, we used to make things such as knitted dolls, crochet and ganutell. We would then put them in a showcase at the day centre, for sale, and use the money to finance our outings," said Bice Fenech, one of the day centre users.
"But now there is no place in the new day centre for our materials, such as the wool and needles. They are locked away in the local council's garage," she said.
Ms Fenech is one of some 40 residents, whose ages range from 60 to 90, who signed a letter to The Sunday Times voicing concern over the Qawra day centre.
Written by Giusa Grech, the letter led to an interview with 11 representatives of the group who explained that, despite raising their concerns with the local council - which runs the day centre - the situation remained unchanged.
When contacted, St Paul's Bay mayor Graziella Galea said the local council was "trying to find an alternative place for them".
The day centre users explained that, until last year, they attended a centre located in St Paul's Bay house. The local council then approached them and explained they had to find an alternative place since the owner of the premises had upped the rent.
"We agreed to move. But we wanted a place like the one we had or better... Instead we ended up in a garage in Qawra which we share with the scouts," Mary Muscat said.
The place is used as a day centre, attended by elderly people from the area during the week, while the scouts use it at weekends.
"When we go there on a Monday morning we find a mess... But, I guess, they were there before us," Ms Grech said, adding: "That's not the right place for us."
The main problem is the centre's location, as the users would prefer a place within walking distance of the shops so they can buy their groceries and, perhaps, attend Mass.
Another problem is that there is only one bathroom for men and women to share. "We find it difficult since a lot of members take medication and need to go quite often," Ms Grech said.
"There's also a lack of privacy. There is nowhere we can speak to our officer in charge and open up about our problems and concerns as we could before," she added.
The group stressed that the officer in charge was always there for them and had no control over the crammed situation.
Ms Fenech added that there was no phone which meant they had no way of informing the officer they could not make it on the day they usually attended the centre.
"She would have prepared sandwiches for us," Ms Fenech said. The group added that, since they moved to this centre, dance and computer lessons had stopped and the only thing they did was play bingo.
"I know they can find us a better place if they want to. Ideally it should be at ground floor level so that it is accessible to those of us who can't climb stairs," Iris Mallia said.
Doris Portelli said the day centre was her only weekly outing. "Many of us are widows or widowers and live alone. Going to the day centre is our only window to the world."