Sliema Townsquare Project will increase pollution and traffic congestion – AD
Commenting on the revised Environment Impact Study on the proposed Townsquare Project in Sliema, AD said that it is being confirmed that the project, which amongst others is projected to include a 23-storey tower, will increase air pollution and thousands of cars in an already congested area.
Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said that “the townsquare project is planned in the middle of an area which is already plagued with heavy traffic flows. This means that any assessment which informs the decision making process should assess the impact of this project on the whole area. We would like to remind MEPA that it is legally obliged to ensure that the air quality limit values enforced by the Ambient Air Quality Directive are not exceeded anywhere around the Maltese Islands including Sliema. We would also like to note that development intensification usually works against air quality. Decision makers at MEPA should be held liable if residents of the area suffer adverse health effects.”
“Sliema residents have a right to air quality which is within the limits specified by the above mentioned Directive and they can petition the European Commission, if their right to clean air quality is not respected by the Authorities. Unfortunately, Sliema Local Council’s silence on this issue is not helping matters”.
Il-Progett fuq il-Pjazza ta’ tas-Sliema se jzid it-tniggiz u t-traffiku – AD
L-AD, f’kumment dwar ir-revizjoni ta’ l-Istudju dwar l-Impatt Ambjentali fuq il-Progett propost ghall-Pjazza f’tas-Sliema, qalet li qed jigi kkonfermat li l-progett, li fost ohrajn qed jigi progettat li jinkludi torri ta’ 23 sular, se jzid fit-tniggiz ta’ l-arja u se jzomm eluf ta’ karozzi f’post diga kongestat.
Michael Briguglio, Chairperson ta’ l-AD, qal li “il-progett huwa pjanat f’nofs zona diga` mifnija bit-traffiku. Dan ifisser li kwalunkwe evalwazzjoni li ghandha x’taqsam mal-process ghat-tehid ta’ decizjoni ghandu jevalwa l-impatt ta’ dan il-progett fuq iz-zona kollha. Irridu nfakkru lill-MEPA li hija obbligata bil-ligi tassigura li l-valuri tal-limitu tal-kwalita` ta’ l-arja kif stabbiliti fl-“Ambient Air Quality Directive” ma jinqabzu fl-ebda zona madwar Malta, l-anqas f’tas-Sliema. Irridu ukoll nghidu li l-intensifikazzjoni ta’ l-izvilupp generalment tahdem kontra l-kwalita` ta’ l-arja. Dawk li jiehdu d-decizjonijiet gewwa l-MEPA ghandhom jinzammu responsabbli jekk ir-residenti, konsegwentament, isofru xi effetti fuq sahhithom.”
“Ir-residenti ta’ tas-Sliema ghandhom dritt ghal kwalita` ta’ arja li hija fi hdan il-limiti specifikati fid-Direttiva msemmija hawn fuq, u ghandhom dritt jipprezentaw petizzjoni lill-Kummissjoni Ewropeja jekk id-dritt taghhom ghal kwalita` tajba ta’ l-arja mhix rispettata mill-Awtoritajiet. Sfortunatament, il-fatt li l-Kunsill Lokali ta’ tas-Sliema qed jibqa` sieket dwar din il-kwistjoni mhix qed tghin.”
