Labour leader Alfred Sant told a meeting with Ta’ Xbiex local council that the party wanted to consolidate the potential of Grand Harbour and at the same time take new economic development initiatives while launching initiatives of a social nature at different levels.

Each community living around the harbour had its own identity and each had different problems, challenges and aspirations. Ta’ Xbiex could be said to be made up of three parts – the old part, the more modern area, and the zone where the diplomatic missions were established. Touristic development had fallen considerably.

Mayor Antoinette Vassallo said the council wished to see various projects implemented as part of the development of the Grand Harbour area. The section of the strand used by swimmers could be embellished, a belvedere could be built along another part of it and a garden could be developed in the yacht marina area.

She also referred to several villas in the town whose use was being changed and made non-residential, exacerbating the parking problem during the day. Touristic initiatives could be launched to regenerate Ta’ Xbiex, she said.