The Siġġiewi council was not consulted on the new €7 million shooting range being built on the outskirts of the locality and so it could not raise safety, noise and traffic issues, the Times of Malta was told.

This was confirmed by Siġġiewi mayor Alessia Psaila Zammit when she was asked whether the council had been brought in by the government on the matter. The paper approached her in view of the fact that the government is refusing to publish studies connected to the project.

Read: Police may lose out to sportsmen at Ta’ Kandja shooting range

Located within the academy for disciplined forces at Ta’ Kandja, the facility will be less than 500 metres from a Malta International Airport runway and less than a kilometre away from the closest residential areas. The project is expected to be ready by June, when Malta will host the world shooting championships.

The authorities should find ways and means to ensure peace of mind for all Siġġiewi residents

Despite its massive footprint, the facility was exempted from the need to go through the normal planning procedures on the strength of a legal notice that was published last August. In accordance with the legal notice, projects within the property of the police force only require a fast-track application, known as development notification order.

Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Dr Psaila Zammit pointed out it that had  not been possible for the council to make submissions because a DNO did not allow it. She expressed disappointment that the council had not been consulted on issues such as safety, sound disturbances and traffic and parking management.

Read: Government silent on shooting range studies

The authorities should find ways and means to ensure peace of mind for all Siġġiewi residents, she added. On a positive note, the mayor described the decision to host the world championship as beneficial for the entire country.

The Times of Malta also approached the Mqabba council, but a spokesman declined to comment on the grounds that the facility would not be in its boundaries.

Questions were also sent to the Qrendi local council, but no replies were received by the time of writing.