Gżira residents have urged the government to insist on reductions to Midi's Manoel Island mega-development, with the project on the cusp of final approval.

At the end of a heated town-hall meeting organised by new pressure group Inħobbu l-Gżira on Tuesday night, some 60 residents agreed on an open letter to be sent to the government and opposition.

The letter calls for the government to acquire the land on Manoel Island closest to the mainland, where Midi plans to build the most controversial of its proposed apartment blocks, and retain it for public enjoyment.

It also calls for height reductions to protect long-range views of Valletta from Gżira, the elimination of land-reclamation plans, and a new slipway with adequate facilities to replace the one that will be removed as part of the development.

"Speak to your MPs and to everyone you know; tell them that this project frightens us," a group spokesman said at the end of the meeting.

The group, set up in recent weeks, has warned that the development plan would in its current form transform a large part of the Gżira promenade into an access road or bridge to Manoel Island. It has also said that views across Marsamxett Harbour would be lost as two “enormous” apartment blocks would be built on reclaimed land right opposite Triq ix-Xatt.

During the meeting, which largely took the form of a presentation of the development plans, residents and business owners expressed their frustrations that the project would not give anything back to the local community. Concerns were raised over the height of the proposed buildings, the lack of open spaces, changes to the promenade, and the influx of new residents.

The Planning Authority board put off a decision on the development on December 20, citing a lack of information on building heights and other aspects of the project.

The plans - including an extensive residential and commercial complex on Manoel Island, including a hotel and casino at the historic Lazaretto, apartment blocks, retail outlets, yacht marina, streets and plazas - are recommended for approval, with a final decision expected in the coming weeks.

Plans for the Manoel Island mega-development.

The project - which dates back to a concession agreement signed with government in 1999 - has in recent years been marked by controversy and public protests over foreshore access and a widely-slated first draft master plan.

However, the Gżira local council and NGOs leading the opposition dropped their objections after the signing in March of a guardianship agreement with Midi, guaranteeing protection and public access to the island’s heritage buildings, foreshore and green areas.