'Ħal-Far racing track a blow to residents' quality of life': ADPD
'Birżebbuġa cannot take more noise pollution. It is bombarded from all directions'
ADPD on Saturday slammed the government's decision to select a site for a car-racing track at Ħal-Far, on the outskirts of Birżebbuġa.
The party said the decision reflected gross lack of sensitivity towards the welfare of the residential communities in the area.
“Birżebbuġa cannot take more noise pollution. It is already bombarded from all directions," Melissa Bagley, a Birżebbuġa resident and ADPD deputy chair told a press conference.
Together with deputy chair Carmel Cacopardo, Bagley noted that Birżebbuġa was already subjected to noise from aeroplanes that descend towards the airport, as well as the continuous Freeport operations.
Part of the race track site has already been in use on weekends, Bagley said, noting that the noise reaches not only Birzebbuga, but also Kirkop and Safi. At times, this goes on well into the night, even as late as 2am, Bagley added.
Even though works on the racing track itself, spread over 82,900 square metres, have not yet kicked off, the original estimate of its costs have already sky-rocketed from the original €20 million to a staggering €78.3 million, Cacopardo noted, urging for a clarification on the discrepancy.