Local councils, environmental organisations, constituted bodies and exhibitors are among those who will be consulted before the corporation moves to Ta’ Qali in three years time, he added.

Mr Mizzi was reacting to a report in TMID (2 August) in which Nationalist MP David Agius urged the corporation to reconsider its plans to move from Naxxar to Attard, saying that this would bring “hardship to the residents there”.

Mr Mizzi said that, first of all, the land where the corporation will develop its new grounds is not in Attard but in Ta’ Qali, which falls outside the jurisdiction of any local council.

Secondly, he added that if and when the trade fair grounds move there – close to the Flower Power nursery – the area will be fed by four arterial roads that do not touch Attard at all.

This means that Attard residents will not be affected by the move.

The last time the Malta International Trade Fair will be held in Naxxar will be in 2007. After that, the corporation’s lease of the Naxxar grounds will expire. This means that, in late 2007, specialised fairs will have to be set up at the new site in Ta’ Qali.

Mr Mizzi said that the corporation has filed a general outline application with the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. Once the corporation receives a reply, and can formulate more detailed plans, it will be meeting all the parties concerned before making its final decision.

Mr Mizzi said it was not true that the price of property in the proximity of Attard will fall because of the trade fair grounds at Ta’ Qali. The price of property in Naxxar, even that close to the present trade fair grounds, had not fallen because of the fair.

He added that the Ta’ Qali area the corporation intends to develop into new fair grounds – which is slightly bigger than the one at Naxxar – will not simply be used for fairs. The corporation plans to have a multi-functional area, with the grounds being used for other purposes such as sporting activities at times when no fairs are being held.