During a joint press conference between Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party and Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar in H’Attard, AD Deputy Chairperson and spokesperson on sustainable development Carmel Cacopardo said:
“The proposal to permit an additional two floors for retirement homes in urban areas will create more intensive development.”
“As a direct consequence, the area where this proposal is applied will witness an increase of traffic problems, addition infrastructural pressures as well as shadowing of buildings restricting the utilisation of solar energy for the generation of electricity.”
“We have now grown accustomed to MEPA first drawing up local plans which should have considered our localities holistically and subsequently drawing up a string of exceptions which cancel policies applicable to sectors such as hotels, petrol stations, shooting ranges, stables, areas outside the development zone etc. MEPA is systematically demolishing the local plans.”
“In addition to the difficulties caused by the direct impacts MEPA is now bent on removing the protection of Grade 2 scheduled properties. An example worth considering is the Mtarfa Isolation Hospital which notwithstanding that the consultation period came to an end yesterday has been subject to a development application since June 2015 for the addition of a number of floors (tracking number 162693).”
“This Isolation Hospital was subject to a call for expression of interest last year subject to the rules and policies then applicable. The current process of policy revision which will make it possible to develop different proposals casts the whole expression of interest process in doubt as it places some of those who had an interest at a disadvantage.”
“This is a clear indication that land use planning policies are being used to the advantage of some particular individuals and not to improve the utilisation of land and buildings.”
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Il-MEPA iżżarma l-Pjanijiet Lokali biex taqdi individwi partikolari
Waqt konferenza stampa kongunta bejn Alternattiva Demokratika u Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar f’H’Attard, id-Deputat Chairperson ta’ AD u kelliem dwar l-izvilupp sostenibbli Carmel Cacopardo qal:
“Il-proposta biex djar ghall-anzjani fiz-zoni urbani jkunu jistghu jkollhom zewg sulari iktar mill-gholi permissibbli sal-lum ser tohloq zvilupp iktar intensiv. Bhala konsegwenza ta’ dan, fejn ser tkun applikata din il-proposta, se zzid il-problemi ta’ traffiku, pressjoni fuq l-infrastruttura u dellijiet fuq il-bjut li jtellfu l-generazzjoni ta’ energija generata mix-xemx.”
“Issa drajna lill-MEPA li wara li ippubblikat Pjanijiet Lokali li suppost iharsu b’mod olistiku lejn il-lokalitajiet bdiet b’sensiela ta’ eccezzjonijiet li jgibu fix-xejn ir-regoli f’numru ta’ setturi bhal-lukandi, petrol stations, centri ghall-isparar, stalel, zoni barra l-izvilupp ecc. B’mod sistematiku il-MEPA qed izzarma bicca bicca l-pjanijiet lokali.”
“B’zieda mad-diffikulta’ ikkawzata minn impatti diretti issa l-MEPA se tibda izzarma l-protezzjoni tal-bini skedat fi Grad 2. Ezempju ta’ dan hu l-Isolation Hospital tal-Imtarfa li minkejja illi l-perjodu ta’ konsultazzjoni pubblika ghalaq il-bierah ilha ix-xhur (minn Gunju 2015 – tracking number 162693) li giet sottomessa dwaru applikazzjoni li zzid numru ta’ sulari.”
“Dan l-Isolation Hospital is-sena l-ohra harget dwaru sejha ghal espressjoni ta’ interess li dwarha kien hemm sottomissjonijiet skont ir-regoli u l-policies ta’ dakinnhar. Issa li qed ikunu ikkunsidrati tibdiliet ghal policies li jaghmluha possibli li jkunu zviluppati proposti differenti jitfa’ dell fuq is-serjeta tal-process kollu tas-sejha u jpoggi lil uhud li kellhom interess u zammew mal-policies ippublikati f’pozizzjoni ta’ zvantagg.”
“Dan kollu jindika ukoll li l-policies tal-ippjanar qed isiru biex jaqdu individwi partikolari u mhux isir titjib fl-uzu tal-art u l-bini.”
