Concern over fireworks being set off close to Arriva storage premises

The mayor of Qormi, Jesmond Aquilina, said it was far too early to comment about this summer's feast plans and added that as yet there hadn't been any discussions to set off the fireworks before.

The field from where the fireworks are to be set off this year lies around 200 metres away from where the Arriva yard is situated.

The yard, traditionally used for the setting off of Qormi's St Sebastian fireworks, is currently being used by Arriva as both a Park and Ride, and also an unofficial parking area for buses not in service. Since the yard was taken over by Arriva, a new location was provided to the council for the letting off of fireworks.

In July 2011 Arriva and the Qormi council jointly announced that a mutual agreement was reached on the San Bastjan fireworks show to proceed as planned while minimising disruption to bus passengers travelling on services to, from and through the Marsa Park & Ride site. Reportedly, St Sebastian's Fireworks Society is in discussions to move the location from where fireworks are set off to another part of the town, however as things stand fireworks will be set off from the a field close to the Arriva yard.  

The Marsa Sports Club has been lobbying with authorities to move the fireworks away from the club's premises especially after firework debris caused considerable damage in 2009 when the roof of the locker room at the golf club caught fire during one display. However, the club is powerless because when the government passed over the land to the said club, one of the conditions was that the land will be made available to St Sebastian's Fireworks Society to use for two weeks a year for the setting off of fireworks.

In 2009, the Marsa Sports Club filed a court case to prohibit the Police Commissioner from granting permission for fireworks to be let off from the club's premises. The Court had declared that it sympathised with the club because fireworks were causing disproportionate inconvenience to the public and the club was entitled to protect its property from damage. However, the Court said the club could protect its property by taking simple precautions itself.