As I read the article “No legal protection for residents” (TMIS, 5 August) I can hear the continuous loud bangs of two “bird-scaring gas cannons” that shatter the peace and tranquillity of Ramla valley. This has been going on since early July and will carry on until early September. They start firing at 6am and go off every few seconds (which will go on until 8pm, sometimes even later).

This is the fourth unbearably noisy summer in Gozo so I was surprised to read that a judge had ruled that these bangs could not be considered a breach of the peace. This honourable gentleman obviously does not reside within two kilometres of one of these propane gas guns, or else he has an acute hearing problem.

I have written to the Police Commissioner at least on three occasions since 2004 about this problem, copied to Ministers responsible for law and environment, but my pleas seem to have fallen on deaf ears.

Most of the vineyards in Gozo do not use these peace-shattering gas-guns to scare off birds, but cover the vines with special plastic nets. Only a few have set them up and they are already causing a big problem. What are the authorities waiting for to regulate and control this unbearable noise pollution? More vineyards have been planted everywhere in Gozo. If gas guns are placed in every vineyard, instead of covering the vines with nets to protect them from sparrows, the problem will be more difficult to address, to the detriment of all Gozitan residents and visitors alike. Someone occupying a civil service desk must have given permission to import these guns without taking in to consideration the consequences they would have on such a small, but highly-populated, country like ours.

When I informed the police in Gozo the previous summer I was told that they couldn’t take action unless someone is prepared to report these individual farmers personally, so that they can be taken to court. This is most unfair. If they are a nuisance they should be stopped.

Joe Sultana

XAGHRA