Residents in San Ġiljan, and a host of other places around Malta and Gozo, are consistently being ignored by pro-business decisions taken by the Planning Authority. The true needs of residents are being ignored while ‘pro-business at all costs’ policies are reducing the accessibility of pavements and making roads more dangerous. Alternattiva Demokratika insists that Local Councils are given greater autonomy over their towns such that the true needs of the community are taken into consideration.
The most recent case of existing parking spaces being sacrificed for an outdoor platform for a bar in San Ġiljan is just another example of planning policies working in favour of certain businesses to the detriment of residents and of other businesses.
In his statement, James Gabarretta, AD spokesperson for the Urban Environment and Local Councils questioned why public space is being given up, and already crowded pavements are being effectively privatised. To make matters worse, local councils are systematically left out the decision making processes involving their localities. St. Julian’s, Sliema, Gżira and Marsaxlokk are amongst the localities being affected most by the central government’s ‘pro-business at all costs’ policies.
James Gabarretta concluded:”The current situation in which the Planning Authority constantly overrides local councils, to the detriment of the community is unacceptable. The encroachment of platforms, cluttering already small pavements and jutting out into roads must stop. We need more pedestrian areas rather than the commercialisation of public spaces.”
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Il-policies ‘pro-business akkost ta’ kollox’ huma policies kontra n-nies
Ir-residenti ta’ San Ġiljan, u ta’ bosta lokalitajiet oħra madwar Malta u Għawdex, qed ibatu minħabba d-deċiżjonijiet ‘pro-business akkost ta’ kollox’ tal-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar. Il-bżonnijiet tar-residenti qegħdin jiġu injorati filwaqt li l-attitudni pro-business qed tnaqqas l-aċċessibilità għal min juża l-bankini, minn tfal sa anzjani. Alteranattiva Demokratika tinsisti li l-Kunsill Lokali għandhom jingħataw aktar poteri biex jirregolaw l-ispazji pubbliċi fil-lokalitajiet. Bħalissa l-bżonnijiet tal-komunità qed jiġu njorati.
L-iktar każ riċenti li jikkonċerna spazju pubbliku u parkeġġi eżistenti li kienu se jiġu sagrifikati biex igawdi bar f’San Ġiljan, għad-detriment tar-residenti u ta’ negozji oħra fl-inħawi. James Gabarretta kelliem ta’ AD għall-Ambjent Urban u Kunsilli Lokali staqsa għaliex aktar spazju pubbliku qed jingħata għall-użu privat. Il-bankini huma diġà dojoq u mimlijin ostakli, iżda minflok l-awtoritajiet jaraw kif iżidu l-ispazji pubbliċi qed jiddeċiedu li jipprivatizzaw full metru kwadru possibbli.
Biex tgħaxxaq, il-Kunsilli Lokali qegħdin jitħallew barra b’mod sistematiku mill-proċess tad-deċiżjonijiet u qed jiġu kompletament injorati. Lokalitajiet bħal San Ġiljan, Tas-Sliema, il-Gżira u Marsaxlokk huma fost l-aktar lokalitajiet affettwati minn bankini li jingħataw lill-privat. Alternattiva Demokratika tinsisti li l-Kunsilli Lokali għandom ikunu fiċ-ċentru ta’ dawn id-deċiżjonijiet għax huma jirrapreżentaw l-interessi tal-komunitajiet tagħhom.
Alternattiva Demokratika tisħaq li l-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar m’għandhiex tkompli xxekkel lill-Kunsilli Lokali. Il-policies ‘pro-business akkost ta’ kollox’ tal-gvern hemm bżonn li jinbidlu. Mhux aċċettabbli li l-ispazji pubbliċi jkomplu jiġu privatizzati. Li għandna bżonn huma aktar żoni pedonali, mhux aktar pjattaformi privati fuq il-bankini jew sporġuti f’nofs ta’ triq.