Move Valletta FC project to ex-power station site in Marsa, Momentum urges

Arnold Cassola has written to the prime minister, opposition leader, and Valletta FC president, urging them to move the proposed campus from public land in Pembroke to the former Marsa power station site.

Cassola's Momentum on Friday condemned PN and PL for greenlighting the transfer of public land in Pembroke for the Valletta FC football campus. It said MPs acted against the wishes of the residents after weeks of claiming they were listening to the people.

On Sunday, it said it had written to Robert Abela, Alex Borg, and Claudio Grech about the issue. In the letter sent to the three, it said the matter could be turned into a win-win situation, and both the needs of Valletta FC and the residents of Pembroke would be taken into account.

"There is no doubt that the capital city’s club needs a high-level ground. At the same time, residents of Pembroke and the surrounding areas - already burdened by the inconveniences of projects such as that of DB, Villa Rosa, the St George’s Bay area developments, the Chinese Embassy, 12 schools and four existing football clubs - should not be deprived of the stretch of untouched land that is now being sacrificed for the Valletta project.

"Fortunately, there is a perfect solution that would satisfy everyone: the former Marsa power station, which meets all the requirements of a club of Valletta FC’s level," Cassola said in the letter. 

Apart from making use of land that has already been developed, if it were to be built in Marsa, there would be no need for players and supporters to use private cars for such a short distance.

The regeneration of the Marsa area with a ground set against the backdrop of the Grand Harbour would meanwhile be similar to Como’s stadium overlooking Lake Como.

At the same time, there would not be an increase in the "already disastrous traffic flow in the Pembroke area", and the green open space with clean air for residents and children to enjoy would be preserved, he said.