Be the first to comment!eNGOs call for PA Board members to be held to account for decision
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This morning the environmental NGOs Din l-Art Helwa, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Friends of the Earth (Malta) and the Ramblers Association, filed a judicial protest calling upon the board members of the Planning Authority not to issue permits for high rises until the law had been observed.
In a joint statement they said that there was "documented proof that the correct procedure had not been followed" and the eNGOs were holding Board members "personally and collectively responsible to uphold the law and not help circumvent it."
Tomorrow the PA board will take decisions on whether to grant permits for two high-rise project. One application is by Gasan and Tumas Groups for four high-rise towers located at Mriehel. The other application, also by Gasan, is for the massive development TownSquare complex in Tigne, Sliema.
The e NGOs said that, these buildings will have a huge and long-term impact on the lifestyle of residents of Malta. They will affect traffic congestion, air quality, visual amenity as well as infrastructure.
"It is therefore of utmost importance that all planning laws and policies are followed scrupulously in order to safeguard the public's rights. The planning process and decision-making must be conducted a transparent manner, without any interference not contemplated in the law."
"In both these cases, the policy governing high-rise buildings was not subject to public consultation as required by law. This has also been confirmed by the Environment and Planning Commissioner David Pace," said the eNGOs.
"The required studies, including a social impact assessment, were not carried out satisfactorily and the Mriehel site was added by stealth, after the public consultation had closed," they added.
Through this protest, the NGOs said they are calling on the PA board members to refuse any development proposal which contravenes applicable laws and policies.
Photo: View from Mdina to Valletta with the proposed 4 towers at Mriehel
