Localities that suffer urban degeneration because of heavy industries should be given more funds, according to the mayor of Marsa.

Francis Debono said yesterday heavy industries in Marsa were partly to blame for a constant drop in population and called on the government to set up a specific fund to finance urban improvement projects.

Money for the fund should come from companies investing in projects that caused inconvenience to residents, he added.

Mr Debono made the call in the presence of Planning Parliamentary Secretary Michael Falzon and top Malta Environment and Planning Authority officials during a short ceremony in which several councils were given funds for urban improvement projects.

The money came from Mepa’s Urban Improvement Fund (UIF), financed through payments from projects that do not make adequate provisions for parking in their plans.

Mr Debono urged the authorities to create a separate fund that would be premised on the ‘polluter pays’ principle so that councils could invest the money to mitigate the negative impact of heavy industry.

The event was held on the pedestrian bridge across December 13 Road in Marsa that was recently refurbished by funds from the UIF.

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