Naxxar Residents’ Noise Pollution Battle Rages On

In the heart of Naxxar, a small town in the northern region of Malta, lies a construction site that has been a thorn in the side of local residents for years. The site, located on Triq l-Indipendenza, has been the source of constant noise, dust, and traffic congestion, with residents claiming that they have been warning authorities about the issue for years to no avail.

Maria Azzopardi, a long-time resident of Naxxar, has been one of the most vocal critics of the construction site. “I’ve been living here for over 30 years,” she says, “and this site has been a problem for at least half of that time. We’ve complained to the local council, the Environment and Resources Authority, even the Prime Minister’s office, but nothing changes.”

Maria is not alone in her frustration. Neighbours have formed a Facebook group, ‘Naxxar Residents Against Noise Pollution’, to share their experiences and coordinate their efforts to pressure authorities into action. The group’s administrator, who wishes to remain anonymous, tells Hot Malta, “We’ve collected signatures, held protests, even met with the site’s developers, but the noise and disruption continue unabated.”

Malta’s Environmental Protection Act states that construction work should not exceed 40 decibels during the day and 30 decibels at night. However, residents claim that these limits are regularly exceeded, with noise levels often reaching 60 decibels or more. “It’s not just the noise,” says Maria, “the dust is terrible too. It gets into our homes, our lungs, and our children’s playgrounds.”

The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) is responsible for enforcing these regulations. However, residents allege that the ERA’s response has been inadequate. “They’ll come out, take some measurements, and then nothing happens,” says the Facebook group administrator. “We’ve had enough of empty promises and inaction.”

Politicians from both the ruling and opposition parties have visited the site and promised action, but residents remain skeptical. “They’ll make a big show of it, but then nothing changes,” says Maria. The developer of the site, a local construction company, has been less than forthcoming when approached for comment.

Hot Malta has learned that the site’s construction permit was initially issued in 2008, with several extensions granted since then. While the developer maintains that they are operating within the bounds of their permit, residents argue that the scale and impact of the construction far exceed what was originally proposed.

Residents are now considering legal action, hoping that a court order will force the developer and authorities to address the issue once and for all. “We just want to live in peace,” says Maria, “is that too much to ask?”

Hot Malta has reached out to the ERA, the local council, and the developer for comment. We will continue to follow this story as it develops.