Update with reactions: Earlier this afternoon, the Planning Board unanimously turned down an outline planning application for the rehabilitation of a quarry in Wied Ghomor, Swieqi and the development of a retirement home and ancillary facilities on part of the site.

The Board cited that the development of an old people’s home within the valley area goes against a number of thematic objectives set out in the approved Strategic Plan for the Environment and Development (SPED).

The Board overturned the Planning Directorate recommendation to the project as there was not sufficient justification for the development project to be granted.

The Wied Ghomor valley, which boarders the localities of San Gwann, St. Julians and Swieqi, is characterised by an intricate system of terracing, consisting mainly of fields on relatively steep valley flanks.

AD on the Wied Ghomor decision:

With reference to the PA board decision on the application for an Old People’s Home in Wied Ghomor, Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson, Prof. Arnold Cassola, said, “it is good that common sense has prevailed in today’s decision. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, as we have seen in the past three days where permits for development in ODZ areas in Mellieha, Rabat, Mqabba and Mgarr were granted. This is not acceptable. ODZ is ODZ. We now look forward to the 18,000 square metre Zonqor ODZ project being dropped too.”

FAA response:

Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar said that it welcomes the Planning Authority’s decision to unanimously refuse the application to build a home for the elderly in the quarry at Wied il-Ghomor, one of the few remaining unbuilt areas between Swieqi and San Gwann.

At the MEPA hearing FAA expressed its shock that the Case Officer report recommending approval of this application referred to quarry regulations allowing such a development, but failed to quote environmental and ecological regulations which gave extra protection to this valley as an Area of Ecological Importance and Site of Scientific Importance.

FAA fails to understand how the Case Officer could recommended approval of the permit since the Resources Authority refused it in view of the fact that the permeable Coralline limestone of this valley feeds the nearby aquifer. The SPED policy also stipulates that development should not encroach on Out of Development Zones where alternatives are available, therefore the recommendation should have been to refuse since since alternatives are available,” the NGO said.

Finally FAA asked “how come the Planning Report failed to take the residents’ and end users’ interests into account when the Planning Authority’s remit is: “to secure a balanced and sustainable environment for our community and provide a better quality of life.”

“The proposed development violates Malta’s National Health Systems Strategy 2014-2020: “there will be increased focus on empowering and encouraging communities to become more involved in the provision of informal care in the community and as near as possible to where people are residing and working.”

FAA said that, “this development would have set a precedent leading to the building of the whole valley, impacting the residents with loss of open space, increased traffic and pollution, while isolating the elderly. It is augured that this decision will lead the way to more consideration of communities’ well-being at the Planning Authority.”

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