‘Prisoner In My Own House’: Cottonera Residents ‘Suffering Vast Issues’ Due To Shipyard
Cottonera residents have spoken out about the consequences being suffered from living so close to a shipyard with “unbridled operations”.
A group of 141 Cottonera residents have recently submitted a formal complaint to ERA, detailing the vast issues that they are suffering from due to operations of the Palumbo shipyard, including sounds, smells, and debris.
“I’m a prisoner in my house – unable to open a single window or sleep properly because of the awful smell and noise at all hours of the day and night,” Josianne Micallef, who lives along Triq is-Sur in Isla, expressed.
“I understand that the shipyard needs to operate but it’s located in a dense, residential area and our health and well-being should be respected.”
High levels of decibels
“I was shocked to hear that the ERA permit has no parameters regulating the operations’ impact on us!”
Among the issues being experienced, includes high levels of noise at any hour of the day, dust debris in the surrounding area, and strong smells.
Currently, residents are dealing with noise peaks as high as 82 decibels, with 70 decibels being equal to a sound of a vacuum cleaner.
Such high levels of decibels are also being experienced at night, leading to residents not being able to sleep, open a window, or enjoy their outdoor area.
“For years now we have complained about the incessant emissions, but to no avail. It is evident that the shipyard has no interest in conducting its business with respect for us or the area.”
The residents are now demanding that parameters regulating sound, smell, and debris emissions are implemented immediately, and then monitored and enforced accordingly.
“Over the past weeks, we have been afflicted by extreme noise – often throughout all hours of the late night and early morning. It is no exaggeration to say that it has been impossible to sleep for several nights in large areas of Senglea and Paola,” the residents wrote in the official complaint.
The current environmental permit issued by ERA – EP 0023/17 – is severely lacking in such parameters, and consequently, residents have often been told by the police that there is nothing the police can do about the situation.
Have you encountered a similar problem in the area?
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