Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party said today “that the proposed development at Wied il-Ghasel in Mosta is unsustainable. AD also presented its candidate for the Mosta Local Council elections, Robert Callus. NGO Harsien Patrimonju Mosta also participated in the news conference.

Carmel Cacopardo, AD Spokesperson on sustainable development and home affairs, said that “in Mosta there are too many vacant properties and there is no need for further development on a large scale. The development permit for an existing building to be demolished and for a number of apartments, penthouses and garages to be developed in its stead should be withdrawn because the land for which the permit was issued is in part land which forms part of the ecological system associated with Wied il-Ghasel. The development which is taking place on this site at present is destroying one of the few remaining open spaces close to the centre of Mosta, and very necessary one.”

AD said that “the original application (PA5560/05) was for 24 apartments and a number of penthouses together with 26 garages. It is pertinent to question the need for this type of massive development in Mosta which will see the building of more residential units when the 2005 census had already indicated that over 16% of 7137 residences in Mosta (amounting to 1151 units) were vacant.”

“The building of residences which remain unoccupied is an added burden on the resources of the Local Council, resources which can easily be utilised to improve the amenities used by the community of Mosta rather than to serve the interests of speculators,” AD said.

Robert Callus, a new AD candidate for the Mosts Local Council elections said that “the presence of Alternattive Demokratica on the Mosta Local Council will mean that the Council will put environmental issues on its agenda since these affect the quality of life of every resident of Mosta. The building in Wied il-Ghasel means the destruction of part of Mosta’s natural heritage which the Mosta Local Council is obliged to protect.”

Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said, “AD is four-square behind Harsien Patrimonju Mosta in its activism against the destruction of the concerned valley. I invite all concerned citizens to check out their website to verify the facts on this destructive development.”

Photos show from top left the Maltese Girna, the valley ridge and fields, the approved development area within the blue lines.

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