Antenna protest

Wardija residents yesterday held a public protest over plans by Vodafone to set up a tele-communications antenna in the locality. Mepa has approved a development application for the antenna but an appeal is pending.

The residents said the antenna would be a serious health hazard because of emissions of electromagnetic frequencies and it would also harm the environment. The antenna is to be set up on a site of natural beauty, rich in endemic flora and fauna.

"This is an area of natural forestation over unspoilt garigue, which has already been partially spoilt due to the heavy vehicles that have accessed the antenna location and dumped a large number of tonnes of building waste in order to create a suitable foundation for the antenna to be erected," the residents said in a statement.

They also asked how Vodafone had accessed the land, which falls within the control of the Lands Department and has been leased out as agricultural land to third parties.

The protest was addressed by Joe Scicluna, Lorraine Schembri Orland and Jan-Karl Farrugia.

Members of the St Paul's Bay council participated in the protest.