The removal of some unlicensed road vehicles in Marsa was only a token gesture in comparison to the urgent attention which the locality desperately needs.

This is not a situation which surfaced over the past weeks. It is a case of neglect for year after year, decade after decade. Some of the rusting hulks which are in Marsa have been there for 20 years or more.

This is not a mere assumption, it is fact. This newspaper had embarked on an expedition around Marsa creek some five years ago. This is before the Valletta Waterfront and the continuous waterfront idea was ever considered. It was also before the dismantling of the old abattoir incinerator and the introduction of the Marsa Open Centre. The place was a diabolical shambles. It still is.

The local council and residents are up in arms at the fact that Marsa seems to be one of the dumping grounds of Malta. In the past, people used to do it in the countryside, but thanks to an awakening of conscience, combined with the bulk refuse service and the fines dished out for dumping, people seem to have stopped doing it.

It seems that Marsa is now the place to dispose of mattresses, trailers, old cars, washing machines, trucks and any variety of refuse. In addition, there is the issue of the Marsa horse stables. These are built willy-nilly and one seriously doubts that they are up to standards that are required. Marsa must be one of the only places on earth where one can find ‘multi-storey’ stables. The waste that these animals – not through their own fault – create is also posing a massive headache for the locality. It stinks and it also gives rise to the rat infestation which the council has already complained about.

It is clear that something needs to be done. First of all, there needs to be a concerted and coordinated effort by Transport Malta and the police to identify abandoned vehicles which then need to be towed away and scrapped. Secondly, the police need to be involved in escorting members of the Public Works Division to clear up the mess which can be seen in every part of the locality. The council has already pointed out that the people who use the nearby stables are very territorial and have often resisted any work which is attempted by third party contractors.

It is only then, when the area is cleaned up and regulated that any form of police and warden patrolling can take place. Marsa is a forgotten area. Many have branded it as being a no-go area, both at night and during the day. This is 2010 and this is Malta, a modern European country. We understand that every country has its problems, but merely sweeping this whole locality ‘under the carpet’ simply will not do. The government has been very successful in putting its foot down in other localities – beaches, Valletta, caravan sites and Marsaxlokk all spring to mind. It is clear that the council simply cannot manage such a problem on its own. There needs to be central intervention otherwise, the situation is simply going to degenerate further. If this is not tackled now, then we can forget ever having a continuous waterfront from Valletta to Vittoriosa.