A total of 90 per cent of respondents to a survey organised by the Grupp Indipendenti Marsaskala, in which 854 residents expressed their views, are against the Sant’Antnin recycling plant, front man Josie Muscat told a news conference yesterday.

He said the survey gave a much more realistic picture of the prevailing mood than a survey by the waste management company WasteServ, which was carried out among only 38 residents.

“In addition, WasteServ have not yet published the results of that survey,” he said. It was interesting to note, he added, that 12 people who had taken part in that same survey also took part in the one organised by GIM, and said that they were against the proposal.

Dr Muscat also said that a question was posed about the fish farms, asking residents whether or not they were in favour of the setting up of a concentration of farms six kilometres off Marsascala. He said that 82.4 per cent of respondents said that the Marsascala’s environment would be ruined by such a development.

Meanwhile, 87.6 per cent of respondents said they thought the recycling plant would be detrimental to the residents and those who visit the village. 94.2 per cent believe that a new site should have been found further away from people’s homes, bearing in mind that the old plant is to be demolished. In addition, 64.9 per cent of respondents said they did not feel informed enough about the environmental and hazardous risks of the digesting facility that will process toxic gasses.