The residents of Bahar ic-Caghaq would like to thank The Times for expressing their pre-occupation about the proposed development at the top of Xatt il-Palm.

Contrary to Anthony Vella's claims (August 21), the footpath linking Xatt il-Palm to the main road has in fact existed for over 100 years, as shown by official local survey maps. The maps reproduced here both clearly indicate the path in question. The older map is dated 1898; the other more recent map, prepared by the Directorate of Overseas Surveys, is dated 1970. The older map even indicates the path as the only access to Bahar ic-Caghaq. The path was always there and we want it to remain.

Mr Vella's second claim that the area was a rubbish dump is also unfounded and its utilisation by the scouts does not justify prohibiting the public, especially their children, from making use of it for legitimate leisure purposes.

Rehabilitation of the site in question should not involve fencing. To aggravate matters further, besides the huge container dumped illegally on the roadside, there is now a water bowser and a caravan, the latter blocking the footpath. Laundry hangs from a line tied between two trees nearby.

We would like to reiterate that it would be grossly unjust for one of Bahar ic-Caghaq's few remaining green areas to be fenced up for the exclusive use of a few individuals during the summer weeks, to the exclusion of all of us who reside here in Bahar ic-Caghaq, particularly to the detriment of our children.

Saviour Attard-Baldacchino, Claire Ryan, Louise Gatt, Christine Baluci, Josette Magro, Joan Gambin, Salvu Galea, Tania Maidani, Ronald Borg Ginger, M. L. Borg Ginger, Patrick Scicluna Calleja, Carol Scicluna Calleja, Igal Maidani, Leonard Zerafa, Sylvana Zerafa, Marcel Gatt, Marika Gatt Sacco, Valent Cutajar, Margaret Cutajar, Clare Cutajar, Charles Muscat, Pauline Muscat, Josie Ellis, Clare Ellis, Kevin Sciberras, Rachel Sciberras Williams, E. Neville Scott, Iris Scott, Joe Fenech Clarke, Maria Fenech Clarke, Frans Muscat, Evelyn Muscat, Edwige Salinos, Simone Green, Tony Green, Tania Attard, Twanny Attard, Marthes Cutajar, Joseph Cutajar, James Portelli, Bernardette Portelli, Imelda Zarb, Michael Camilleri, Rose Camilleri, Albert Bezzina, Rose Bezzina, Mario Hili, Rita Hili, Edward Farrugia,