“Last week’s decision by the Planning Authority to approve the application to determine  the extent and intensity of development on the perifiery of Marsaxlokk, just a few minutes after it had turned down a similar application in respect of land at Mosta rings the alarm bells as no one has any idea as to the criteria on the basis of which these decisions are taken.”

This was stated by Carmel Cacopardo Deputy Chairperson of Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party in Malta when commenting on the decision taken last week by the Executive Committee of the Planning Authority relative to application PC 057/07 to determine the permissible development on a 17,530 square metre stretch of land at Tal-Marnisi alongside Triq il-Baħħara Marsaxlokk.

The Planning Authority’s decision is not final. Notwithstanding that there is no appeal from the decision this must now be approved by Parliamentary Secretary Deborah Schembri in order to be effective. Alternativa Demokratika is aware that this is the result of the incorrect decision taken by Parliament way back in 2006 as a result of which around two million square metres of and on the periphery of our towns and villages were given up for development.
“It is essential”, added Carmel Cacopardo, “that before Parliamentary Secretary Deborah Schembri takes the definite decision which will permanently ruin these 17530 square metres of agricultural land she ensures that  the social, economic and the environmental impacts of this proposed massive development is adequately considered.”

“It is imperative that we remember that the 2011 census had identified that out of 1129 residential units in Marsaxlokk, 75.3% were occupied, 18.7% were vacant and 5.9% only occasionally in use. On its own this is more than sufficient reason to discourage this type of development,” added Carmel Cacopardo.
Alternattiva Demokratika invites both Government and the Labour Party to explain why, notwithstanding the Labour Party having voted against this type of development way back in 2006 in Parliament we are still being faced with these decisions. There is still time for Government to save face if the Planning Authority recommendation is not approved by Parliamentary Secretary Deborah Schembri.

“It is time,” concluded Carmel Cacopardo “ that this stupid decision taken by Parliament way back in 2006 is revised. Alternattiva Demokratika is proud that during the past 11 years it has consistently highlighted the matter and takes this opportunity to invite both Government and Opposition to realise that they should join it to address  the 2006 decision by Parliament.
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Iktar qerda, f’Marsaxlokk

“Id-deċiżjoni tal-Awtoritá tal-Ippjanar li tapprova l-applikazzjoni biex art fil-periferija ta’ Marsaxlokk  tkun żviluppata b’mod intensive, ftit minuti wara li irrifjutat applikazzjoni simili dwar art ġewwa l-Mosta bil-fors tnissel dubju dwar xi kriterji qed jintużaw biex jittieħdu dawn id-deċiżjonijiet.”
Dan qalu Carmel Cacopardo, Deputat Chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika waqt Konferenza Stampa b’appoġġ għar-residenti ta’ Marsaxlokk. Cacopardo kien qed jikkummenta dwar deċiżjoni li ittieħdet il-ġimgħa l-oħra mill-Kumitat Eżekuttiv tal-Awtoritá tal-Ippjanar dwar l-applikazzjoni PC 057/07 biex ikun determinat x’tip ta’ żvilupp hu permissibli fuq art tal-qies ta’ 17,530 metru kwadru f’Tal-Marnisi biswit Triq il-Baħħara Marsaxlokk.

Id-deċiżjoni tal-Awtoritá tal-Ippjanar mhiex id-deċiżjoni finali. Għax għalkemm ma hemmx appell minn din id-deċiżjoni, din issa teħtieġ li tkun approvata mis-Segretarju Parlamentari responsabbli mill-Ippjanar Deborah Schembri qabel ma tkun tista’ tidħol fis-seħħ. Alternattiva Demokratika hi konxja li din id-deċiżjoni hi riżultat tad-deċiżjoni żbaljata li ttieħdet fil-Parlament fl-2006 bħala parti mill-eżerċzzju li bih madwar żewġ miljun metru kwadru ta’ art fil-periferija tal-ibliet u l-irħula tagħna ġiet inkuża fil-konfini tal-iżvilupp.

“Huwa neċessarju”, żied jgħid Carmel Cacopardo, “li qabel ma s-Segretarju Parlamentari Schembri tiffirma l-approvazzjoni finali li se twassal għall-qerda ta’ dawn is-17,530 metru kwadru ta’ raba’ tikkunsidra l-impatti soċjali, ekonomiċi u ambjentali ta’ dan l-iżvilupp massiċċ.”
“Fost oħrajn għandna niftakru li l-aħħar ċensiment li sar fl-2011 kien żvela li minn 1129 residenza f’Marsaxlokk, 75.3% kienu okkupati, 18.7% kienu vakanti u 5.9% oħra kienu użati okkazjonalment. Dan waħdu diġa huwa raġuni valida biżżejjed li minħabba fiha dan it-tip ta’ żvilupp għandu jkun skoraġġit darba għal dejjem,” kompla jgħid Carmel Cacopardo.

Alternattiva Demokratika tistieden lill-Gvern u lill-Partit Laburista biex jispjegaw kif minkejja li fl-2006 l-Grupp Parlamentari Laburista fil-Parlament kien ivvota kontra dan it-tip ta’ żvilupp, issa qed jittieħdu dawn id-deċiżjonijiet. Il-Gvern jista’, f’dan il-każ, jekk irid jiġbor ġieħu jekk ir-rakkomandazzjoni tal-Awtoritá tal-Ippjanar ma tkunx approvata mis-Segretarju Parlamentari Deborah Schembri.

“Wasal iż-żmien”, ikkonkluda Carmel Cacopardo, “li d-deċiżjoni stupida li kien ħa l-Parlament fl-2006 tkun reveduta. Alternattiva Demokratika hi kburija li tul dawn l-aħħar ħdax-il sena ma waqfitx titkellem fuq din il-materja u tistieden lill-Gvern u l-Opposizzjoni biex jiftħu għajnejhom u jingħaqdu magħha biex din id-deċiżjoni ħażina tal-Parliament fl-2006 tkun indirizzata.”