One of the reasons why I voted in favour of joining the EU was because of repeated assurances that citizens' rights would be improved and, more importantly, respected by the local authorities.

We are residents of Bahar ic-Caghaq and are currently being faced by a classic case of an illegal encroachment on our private lives through the disturbances caused by the luna park/disco, etc.

The operators of these activities were rightly refused permits however they have resorted to the usual tactics of appeals, loop-holes, one-time permits and God knows what else to achieve their aims.

Are they going to be successful or are the local authorities going to stamp out these manoeuvres once and for all?

I challenge the local authorities to put into practice what they preached so vehemently before 1 May 2004 and to respect the rights of the residents in our locality.

Denis Zammit Cutajar

Bahar ic-Caghaq