During a press conference next to the derelict Jerma Hotel site in Marsaskala, new ADPD – The Green Party candidate on the third and fourth electoral districts Brain Decelis said that what is happening in Marsaskala is a prime example of the contradictions found in the planning policy adopted by the two big parties PLPN. “Here we have the former Jerma Palace Hotel that for many years used to attract tourists to the south of the country. It used to be enjoyed by locals alike and one can say that in spite of covering up the Saint Thomas Tower as seen from the coast it was an accepted development at the time.”

“However, today this site has been given over for land speculation mainly for residential apartments in a monster development higher than this tower. The development will more than double the current footprint with half of that being allocated to residential and commercial facilities.”

“On the other hand, it is being proposed that Marsaskala bay, which is enjoyed by the local population, is taken over by a yacht marina that will engulf and suffocate this locality. The two massive projects together will undoubtedly bring massive traffic, pollution and cleanliness problems that are already a challenge in this locality.”

“Past decisions that are resulting in the laying of more concrete today need to be reviewed. We must ask, what does a better living standard for all mean? Let’s forget once and for all the marina project but also add that if the Jerma site cannot be used strictly as a hotel it is returned to the public as an open space – in this way even this majestic tower which is being returned to its former glory may be enjoyed also from the coast as had been the case for centuries.”

ADPD – The Green Party Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo said that land use planning is always controversial because it involves tough decision taking on competing land uses. When such decisions are not taken in the interest of the whole community the damage done is substantial.

“Currently 7 local plans are operative together with a document on the ‘Rationalisation of Development Zone Boundaries’ which when approved in 2006 signified that two million square metres of land outside the development zone was now considered ripe for development. The Greens have since 2006 been highlighting the negative consequences of this decision. Most of what our party predicted has occurred or is occurring. Whole areas all around Malta are being developed as evidenced by the protests of residents in all localities.”

“In addition to an increase in the developable land we have also witnessed a relaxation of the permissible height which can be developed. This has and is impacting various residences by reducing their access to direct sunlight, resulting in a reduction of the renewable energy generated through solar panels installed at so much sacrifice by our families, even with assistance through EU funds. As a result, we are now witnessing various attempts to transform agricultural holdings into solar farms as a result laying to waste more agricultural land.”

“The revision of the local plans should commence the soonest leading to new plans which are to the benefit of the whole community and not catering for the speculative interests. It is essential that the development zone boundary is restored to its 2006 position as far as is possible. It is not possible to keep developing further land. A sizeable portion of the two million square metres ear-marked for development in 2006 is still undeveloped and can still be saved. In land use planning, environmental protection and improvement in the quality of life should be the primary objectives to be attained, even before any economic considerations. This is the only way we can address the negative accumulated impacts of speculation and speculators on the whole country.”

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Politika ta’ kontradizzjonijiet – ir-razzjonalizazzjoni tal-2006 għandha titħassar

Illum waqt konferenza stampa f’Marsaskala, ħdejn is-sit tal-lunkanda Jerma, Brian Decelis, li se jikkontesta l-elezzjoni ġenerali ma’ ADPD fuq it-tielet u r-raba’ distretti elettorali qali li dan li qegħdin naraw għaddej f’Marsaskala bħalissa propju juru il-kontradizzjonijiet fejn tidħol il-politika ta’ l-ippjanar kif imfassla miż-żewġ partiti l-kbar, il-PLPN. “Hawnhekk qegħdin ħdejn il-Jerma Palace Hotel li għal bosta snin kienet tattira turisti lejn dawn in-naħat ta’ Malta. Kienet titgawda ukoll min-nies tal-madwar u nistgħu ngħidu għalhekk li minkejja li kienet għattiet it-Torri ta’ San Tumas kien żvilupp li dak iż-żmien ġie aċċettat.”

“Issa illum ninsabu f’sitwazzjoni fejn dan is-sit ingħata għal spekulazzjoni prinċiparjament b’appartamenti residenzjali fi żvilupp mostru li se jkun għoli iktar min dan it-torri. Id-daqs tal-iżvilupp se jkun aktar mid-doppju tal-bini li hawn bħalissa, b’nofsu li se jkun ta’ natura residenzjali u kummerċjali. Filwaqt li min-naħa l-oħra għandek il-bajja ta’ Marsaskala, li titgawda ferm min-nies tal-lokal, li qiegħed jiġi propost li tiġi mogħtija bħala yacht marina li tifga il-qalba ta’ din il-lokalità. Iż-żewġ proġetti massivi flimkien bla dubju ta’ xejn jġibu magħhom problemi kbar ta’ traffiku, tniġġis u indafa li diġà huma ta’ sfida għal din il-lokalità.”

Brian Decelis qal li għandom jiġu riveduti deċiżjonijiet li ttieħdu fil-passat li qegħdin iwasslu għal aktar iżvilupp, u li qed jiksu kull m’hemm bil-konkos illum.  Għandna nistaqsu x’iwassal għal livell t’għajxien aħjar għal kulħadd? Mhux talli għandu jintesa l-proġett tal-marina imma jekk is-sit tal-Jerma ma jistgħax jibqa’ jintuża għat-turiżmu dan għandu jerġa’ jingħata lura bħala spazju miftuħ għal pubbliku – b’hekk anke dan it-torri majestuż li qiegħed jiġi irrestawrat jkun jista’ jitgawda kif kien għal mijiet ta’ snin min-naħa tal-kosta ukoll.”

Carmel Cacopardo, Iċ-Chairperson ta’ ADPD – The Green Party qal li l-ippjanar dwar l-użu tal-art hu dejjem kontroversjali għax jinvolvi li jittieħdu deċizjonijiet iebsa dwar kif tista’ tintuża l-art. Deċiżjonijiet li jekk ma jittieħdux fl-interess tal-komunità kollha se jkomplu jagħmlu ħsara kbira.

“Preżentament għandna 7 pjani lokali u dokument dwar ir-razzjonalizzazzjoni tal-linja tal-iżvilupp li fisser illi fl-2006 żewġ miljun metru kwadru ta’ art li kienet barra miż-żona tal-iżvilupp, b’daqqa ta’ pinna saret tajba għall-bini. Dan il-partit ilu sa mill-2006 jitkellem kontra l-impatti negattivi ikkawżati minn daqstant art li ngħatat għall-iżvilupp. Illum dak kollu li konna ngħidu dakinnhar qed iseħħ. Żoni sħaħ f’kull parti ta’ Malta qed jinbnew kif jixhdu l-ilmenti u l-protesti kontinwi tan-nies f’kull lokalità.”

“Minbarra li żdiedet l-art li tista’ tinbena żdied ukoll l-għoli permissibli tal-bini. Dan għandu l-konsegwenza li jnaqqas l-aċċess għax-xemx fil-bini tal-madwar. Jaffettwa lil dawk kollha li b’sagrifiċċju, u bl-għajnuna ta’ fondi Ewropej, investew fil-pannelli biex jiġġeneraw l-enerġija mix-xemx.  Riżultat ta’ hekk imbagħad qed iduru għall-art agrikola biex flok razzett li jiġġenera prodotti agrikoli jibda jiġġenera ix-xemx. Qed nitilfu iktar raba inutilment.”

“Hu meħtieġ li tinbeda bis-serjetà r-reviżjoni tal-pjani lokali li għandha twassal biex dak propost ikun ta’ benefiċċju għal kulħadd u mhux għal min hu interessat biss fl-ispekulazzjoni. Għandha titħassar ir-razzjonalizazzjoni tal-2006. Huwa essenzjali li l-pjan li bih ġiet estiża il-linja tal-iżvilupp jitħassar darba għal dejjem.  Ma nistgħux nibqgħu nieklu iktar art. Parti mdaqqsa minn din l-art għad ma nbnietx u għad nistgħu nsalvawha. Fl-ippjanar għall-użu tal-art jeħtieġ li npoġġu l-ħarsien tal-ambjent u l-kwalità tal-ħajja qabel kull konsiderazzjoni ekonomika. B’hekk biss nistgħu nibdew nindirzzaw l-impatti negattivi tal-ispekulazzjoni u tal-ispekulaturi fuq il-pajjiż kollu.”