What for years was a hub of activity in the heart of Buġibba is today an abandoned building full of empty beer cans, debris and dangling wires.
The space, which for over a decade housed the popular McDonald’s outlet in the seaside locality, has been abandoned for over a year, with shop owners in the area claiming tourists were being scared away.
The building on the main road and just a stone’s throw away from the square is completely accessible as temporary fencing erected by the owners when the outlet moved out has since been destroyed, adding to the shabby state of the place.
Beer cans, garbage bags and broken glass litter the complex.
Very little remains of the kitchen that saw thousands of burgers and chips being served, with broken-off soffits covering what was the fast food restaurant’s main dining area.
The outside is also in shambles with overgrown weeds everywhere.
Owners of shops in the area complained with this newspaper that the situation was getting out of hand as apart from the building being an eyesore, groups of young people had taken to drinking on the building’s grounds.
They fear an accident was waiting to happen, adding that there had been times when loud crashing sounds were heard coming from inside the building when people were inside.
St Paul’s Bay mayor Graziella Galea said the matter had been brought up when the restaurant moved out and again when permits for a new development were discussed.
While the council had been in touch with the owners of the building, who had promised to replace the fencing to better block off access, Ms Galea said the problem with abandoned buildings in Buġibba was an ever-growing concern.
“This is one of many,” Ms Galea said.
“While this one is in the heart of the locality, we have had similar problems with a few hotels, for instance, where owners fail to properly block their abandoned buildings that then end up as dumping grounds.”
She added that better enforcement was needed to ensure that such places were not left in such a state for long stretches of time, especially as the summer months see large numbers of tourists and locals heading to Buġibba.
