During a press conference held at Pjazza Ghawdex in Qawra, Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party Chairperson Prof Arnold Cassola said: ‘ St.Paul’s Bay is a big diverse locality which encompasses areas that have contrasting needs and exigencies, such as the intense building activity in Xemxija, the huge tourist inflow impacting on Qawra and Bugibba, the quieter life of the inner core of the original fishing town centre of St Paul’s Bay and the rural characteristics typical of Burmarrad and Wardija. For such diversity, the Local Council needs Councillors with innovative ideas, and Simon Galea, our candidate, would definitely be an asset in this respect.’

Simon Galea, the AD candidate for St.Paul’s Bay Local Council elections, stressed on the need for better resource utilization in the locality.

‘If elected I will focus on a holistic approach towards thebetter use of resources including open spaces plus natural resources such as rain water and solar energy.’

‘In addition to national government budgetary allocations the St Paul’s Bay Local Council should, after carrying out the appropriate studies, tap private financial resources to develop underground parking facilities below existing surface carparks, whilst creating open landscaped area at street level, thereby utilising open spaces to the maximum. The existing surface carparks rob people of open spaces. Investment in facilities for bicycles is also very important.’

‘I also appeal for the wooded area earmarked for land in the middle of Qawra’s urban sprawl to be implemented. Elected to the local council I will follow up on this issue so tht in the near future Qawra will have it’s own green lung in the middle of the surrounding intensively built up area.’

‘Open areas are vital in any built environment and can serve not only for purely recreational purposes but also for other specific purposes, such as farmers’ market, which could operate weekly or twice weekly in our locality. Local farmers from Burmarrad, Wardija and other parts of the locality can fetch better prices for their produce. On the other hand residents will also benefit from fresher produce which are supplied directly from the farmers at a better price.’

‘Rain water is a precious resource but unfortunately most of it ends up in the sea. Rain water catchment is a priority and my proposals include the construction of cisterns particularly next to landscaped areas where irrigation water is supplied from same cisterns instead of relying on bowsers.’

‘Moreover, I will work towards more investment in solar energy through the installation of more photovoltaic panels.’

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Waqt konferenza stampa fi Pjazza Għawdex fil- Qawra, iċ-Chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party, il-Prof Arnold Cassola qal: ‘ San Pawl il-Baħar hija lokalita’ kbira u diversa li tinkludi nħawi li għandhom bżonnijiet u eżiġenzi differenti, bħall-attivita’ ta’ bini sfrenat fix-Xemxija, l-influss ta’ turisti li jħalli l-impatt tiegħu fil-Qawra u Bugibba, il-ħajja aktar kwieta fil-qalba tal-villaġġ oriġinali tas-sajjieda ta’ San Pawl il-Baħar u l-akkwati rurali, bħal dawk ta’ Burmarrad u l-Wardija. Għal diversita’ bħal din, il-Kunsill Lokali jeħtieġ kulsilliera b’ideat friski, u Simon Galea, il-kandidat tagħna, żgur li jkun jista’ jagħti kontribut kbir f’dan ir-rigward.’

Simon Galea, il-kandidat ta’ AD għall-elezzjonijiet tal-Kunsilli Lokali f’San Pawl il-Baħar, saħaq fuq il-ħtieġa li jkun hemm użu aħjar tar-riżorsi fil-lokalita`.

‘Jekk niġi elett, se nkun qed jiffoka fuq mod aktar ħolistiku ta’ kif jintużaw ir-riżorsi tal-post b’mod aktar effettiv. bħalll-użu ta’ spazji miftuħin, u rizorsi naturali bħall-ilma tax-xita u l-enerġija mix-xemx.’

‘Minbarra dak li jiġi allokat mill-gvern fil-budget, il-Kunsill ta’ San Pawl il-Baħar imissu, wara li jagħmel l-istudji meħtieġa, jissieħeb mal-privat biex joħloq infrastruttura aħjar għat-trasport permezz tal-iżvilupp ta’ faċilitajiet ta’ parkeġġ taħt art li tintuza biss għall parkegg fil-wiċċ tat-triq u b’hekk jinħoloq “landscaping” fil-livell tat-triq. Hekk ikun qed jagħmel użu massimu mill-ispazji miftuħa. Parkeġġi eżistenti f’wiċċ it-triq qed jieħdu spazju li jista’ jintuża mill-pubbliku. Importanti ħafna li ninvestu wkoll f’infrastruttura għar-roti.’

‘Spazji miftuħa huma essenzjali fi kwalunkwe ambjent mibni u jistghu jservu mhux biss għar-rikreazzjoni imma wkoll għal għanijiet speċifiċi bħal xi suq tal-bdiewa li jkun jista’ jopera darba jew darbtejn f’ġimgħa fil-lokalita’ tagħna. Bdiewa tal-lokal minn Burmarrad, mill-Wardija u partijiet oħra ikunu jistgħu jagħmlu aktar qliegħ mill-prodott tagħhom. Min-naħa l-oħra, ir-residenti jkunu jistgħu igawdu minn prodotti aktar friski li jipprovdu l-bdiewa direttament bi prezzijiet aħjar.’

‘Nappella wkoll biex il-masġar fuq mhedda art f’nofs il-Qawra fl-aħħar issir. Elett fil-Kunsill jien nirsisti biex il-Qawra jkollha pulmun aħdar f’nofs l-iżvilupp intensiv tal-madwar.’

‘L-ilma tax-xita huwa riżors prezzjuż imma sfortunatament ħafna minnu jispiċċa fil-baħar. Waħda mill-prijoritajiet tiegħi hija li nsalvaw dan l-ilma tax-xita u l-proposti tiegħi ta’ kif dan jista’ jsir jinkludu l-bini ta’ bjar speċjalment fejn hemm gonna u msagar fi spazji miftuħa, li jkunu jistgħu jissaqqew b’dan l-istess ilma minflok minn ilma tal-bowsers.’

‘Barra minn hekk, naħdem ukoll biex ikun hemm aktar investiment f’enerġija mix-xemx billi jkunu stallati aktar pannelli fotovoltajċi.’