An application for a private jetty in Balluta Bay will turn the area into another Sliema ferries, bringing with it intense commercialisation, pollution, and the complete loss of public space, Moviment Graffitti’s Andre Callus and St. Julian’s mayor Albert Buttigieg warned on Saturday.

Speaking at Balluta in a protest against the development, Buttigieg said that St. Julian’s is under siege, with applications which seize space away from the residents being submitted on a weekly basis.

“It’s like the residents are being asked to leave this place; but this is our home and we want to keep living here”, Buttigieg said.

He noted that the project, if approved, will create a major problem in the locality.  He said that after taking up the roads, public spaces, and even pavements, this project would mean that residents’ children and youths cannot even swim in peace at the bay.

He called for a “serious” study to be done, and not for the private financial interest of a big businessman to steamroll over the residents just because they see potential profits and have the contacts to do so.

“Those who are from here know what ferries mean; they bring savage commerce which leaves nobody in peace.  The shore will be taken, as will the promenade with ticket booths; St. Julians will end up like the Sliema ferries”, Buttigieg said.

He noted that when the council had protested against other applications, the Planning Authority had shut their mouths by using existing policies as justification to accept these applications. He added however that now, by the same measuring tape, the PA should reject the application as its policies indicate that Balluta is not the place for such a development.

He called on residents not to be passive; “Businesses sometimes do what they want because we are afraid of raising our voice.  There is no reason to be scared, and if we need to crucify ourselves for our values, so be it”, Buttigieg said.

Callus meanwhile said that the application is in itself is misleading as it is just for a jetty; but in reality it also constitutes a ferry which is continuously ongoing.

This is much bigger than a simple jetty, and will change the bay, he said.

He said that a private ferry in a small bay such as Balluta would mean that an important swimming zone for residents would be lost, and would mean intensive commercialisation of the area, along with environmental damage through air and marine pollution.

He also noted arguments that a ferry is an alternative means of transport for residents, which hence justifies the project.  Moviment Graffitti, he said, is in favour of alternative transport; but this project will not bring an alternative means of transport for residents to get from one place to the other; “this is for tourists and for Fortina to make money”, he said.

Sliema mayor Anthony Chircop meanwhile said that the promenade in Sliema has been completely taken over by the ferries, and nobody is capable of doing anything to enforce it.

“Let us conserve what we have, and at least if we cannot correct the big mistakes that have already be made, let us not keep making more”, he said.

San Giljan ASC expressed itself in favour of the project.