Dr Harry Vassallo Chairperson of Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party (AD) has said that the proposed extensions to planning boundaries is in violation of Maltese and EU law. AD had joined residents to present a court case about the issue which is still pending in the Maltese courts.
“In terms of Maltese law any such extensions to planning boundaries should take place within the framework of the ongoing Structure Plan review in order to take account of the effects of any such extensions on other planning sectors. The Structure Plan review is itself subject to a Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) in terms of the EU’s SEA Directive. In spite of this Lawrence Gonzi is claiming that nothing will change should his party have total control of government and parliament after the 8 March election. Labour leader Alfred Sant cannot be trusted either on this issue, he has already declared that since the extension of the development boundaries has been approved by parliament, albeit illegally, they will stand. Alfred Sant, Lawrence Gonzi and George Pullicino are all agreeing: the interests of speculators come before that of residents and their quality of life. They have declared that they are agreeing to disregard the rule of law.”
“It is absurd that the PN and MLP are agreeing to break the law in this way especially since the publication of the census, which shows the waste and under utilisation of property within the pre-June 2006 boundaries. It is scandalous that the PN and MLP are promising to exposes a vast expanse of the surviving countryside to development when we clearly already have more than double the amount of space required until 2020 within the present planning boundaries,” Dr Vassallo said.
Dr Vassallo expressed the solidarity of Alternattiva Demokratika with residents all over Malta and Gozo, including those of Attard, Iklin, Swieqi, Mellieha, Birzebbuga and many others who are objecting to the extension of planning boundaries which.
The Labour Party is also favouring major developers by repeating its absurd promise for a golf course in Gozo, most probably in Ta’ Cenc and a yacht Marina which will destroy the good quality bathing water at Hondoq ir-Rummien.
Dr. Vassallo concluded by saying, “For the interests of residents to be safeguareded only the election of AD to parliament as part of a coalition government will bring about the necessary change. As we have seen during the past week both PN and MLP are under the control of mega-contractors and speculators. A parliament and government controlled by any one of them means a government in the interests of the few privileged ones who finance them.”