A request made to the Environment & Resources Authority by Minister Herrera to review the controversial Fuel Station Policy, has been welcomed by Nature Trust Malta.
In a statement, NTM said that the Policy “is the cause of mushrooming fuel stations in ODZ most often over good quality agricultural land and occupying a much more extensive area than those which are being decommissioned (when the case is for decommissioning).”
Nature Trust argued that, “this flawed policy is not merely substituting the humble small fuel pumps in towns – but being replaced by fully fledged commercial enterprises which include also shops and car wash stations over an area of up to 3000 metres squared.”
Citing one particular case, NTM said that, “a new fuel station was given the green light when it did not replace a decommissioned station and was less than the 500m minimal distance required.”
Nature Trust concluded by saying that “apart from further blemishing our rural areas with fuel stations, we are seriously concerned that agricultural land is being lost irreparably and this could threaten food security should our islands have to resort to increasing local produce.”