On Tuesday the Planning Commission Board once again suspended the application for the proposed construction of a “sheep farm” in area known as Ta’ Zjazra in Ghasri, which is Outside Development Zone.

The application – PA/00887/20 – has been suspended for three months in order for the Board to conduct a site visit. The application has been recommended for approval by the Case Officer.

Ghasri Mayor Daniel Attard representing the Local Council and Lawyer Dr Ian Stafrace on behalf of the Council presented their objection to the project “and all other similar projects that intend to construct new farms in Ghasri.”

Mayor Attard said, “we managed to suspend the recommendation for approval and the board will be conducting a site visit to determine whether this project and other similar projects should proceed. The fight continues.”

Apart from the application for the sheep farm, other applications for chicken farms along the road leading into the centre of Ghasri have been objected to by the Local Council over the past 2 years.

“As long as I am Mayor I will continue to oppose any further development in the area as this should not become a semi-industrial area,” Mayor Attard said.

In January 2021 during the initial Planning Commission Board hearing the application was suspended for two months and the architect Alex Bigeni was requested to “submit a block plan of appropriate scale, indicate the proposed development in relation to other existing legal similar commitments in the area; Give justification for the relocation of the existing farm and to indicate also details of existing structures to be demolished within the existing farm; To liaise with the ERA on specified issues;” and the Planning Commission said that it has “visual concern regarding the excessive scale, massing of the proposed sheep farm in such a location. This issue is to be addressed and further consultation with AAC is required.”

Photo: PA

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