The concerns of Albert Town residents are nowhere mentioned in the project description statement to build a new fish market in Marsa, submitted to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) by the Fisheries Department of the Resources and Rural Affairs Ministry, Marsa mayor Francis Debono told The Malta Independent.

The department submitted a proposal to build the new fish market on the site of the disused reverse osmosis plant on Troughbridge Road, adjacent to the abattoir. The Malta Shipbuilding premises are situated right behind the site while the Manufacturing and Services Department garage is situated opposite.

The idea is to build new premises for the wholesale of fish and their by-products, have decent facilities for fish packaging and processing, allocate office space for the fisheries department and have convenient storage facilities for the eventual export of fish.

The premises of the present fish market, on the Valletta waterfront, is expected to be converted into a boutique hotel.

The proposed area, which is highly industrialised, is already plagued by odours from the power station, the abattoir and the incinerator, apart from other problems caused by other industrial sectors such as maritime related activities in the Grand Harbour, to say the least.

According to the project statement, conflicts with residential development are bound to occur in such a predominantly industrialised area. However, it is felt that one of the principal tasks is to minimise such conflict when there is a clear predominant land use, in this case industrial and commercial. It can reasonably be deduced that the area allocated to housing is minimal, according to the statement.

The town has experienced the highest percentage loss of population over the last 10 years, with a current population of just fewer than 5,300 inhabitants, compared to almost 10,000 in the sixties.

The Marsa local council often brought the problems worrying the residents to the authorities’ attention. The Marsa mayor told this newspaper, that he would propose the possibility of taking Mepa to court if the project sees the light of day to local council level.

“Before Mepa accepted the development of the waste separation plant at Albert Town a few years ago, the authority committed itself not to burden the area with further industrial scars,” explained Mr Debono.

“Where is the balance between the residential and the industrial areas? What sort of consultation with the public is this?” the mayor asked. Sending the local council a copy of the project description statement of the new fish market project is not serious consultation, he went on and added that real consultation requires speaking directly with the residents and the local council.

“What about other problems such as increased traffic and parking problems in the area once the project would be up and running? What about the increased odours and noise pollution to the detriment of the residents? The Albert Town residents are already experiencing problems on these lines but is it justifiable to worsen their situation just because they live in a highly industrialised zone?” went on Mr Debono.

Earlier this summer an unbearable stench caused by carcasses which were literally left cooking in the heat, after the incinerator stopped working for 12 days, emanated from the abattoir, disturbing the residents and workers at Albert Town.

A drain blockage outside the slaughterhouse caused a bloodbath on Slaughterhouse Street corner with Prince Albert Street, last November. Quantities of a solution of water heavily laced with blood started flowing early in the morning of the rainy November day, leaving tiny bits of solid animal waste along its course down the street. Residents who live close by are still suffering the consequences of the overflow. One particular resident has to pump out bloody water out of his plot of land on a daily basis.