In a press conference in Sliema, Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green
Party said that the proposed Townsquare project will increase air
pollution and thousands of cars in an already congested area.
Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson and former Sliema local councillor,
said that “the townsquare project is planned in the middle of an area
which is already plagued with heavy traffic flows. A revised
environment impact study was produced and it confirmed that, as being
proposed, Townsquare will increase air pollution and thousands of cars
in an area already characterised by overdevelopment at Tigne’ Point
and Fort Cambridge. Indeed, the Townsquare study projects an
additional 4,430 vehicles in daily traffic in Qui-Si-Sana, increasing
peak flows in the area from the present 24,444 to 28,874 vehicles.
Besides, studies commissioned by the developers showed that the
development will result in further shading of parts of the Qui-Si-Sana
promenade, the sea and the rocky foreshore and will have a major
impact on the landscape”.
“The silence of Sliema local council on the Townsquare proposal is
striking. The council seems to be in a total stalemate and is
conspicuous in its absence regarding environmental issues in the
locality”.
Carmel Cacopardo AD Spokesman on Sustainable Development and Local
Government said: “The Townsquare project should be seen in the light
of 4 important issues, namely the ever increasing number of vacant
properties, traffic generation, air quality and traffic generated
noise.
“MEPA cannot keep issuing development permits until the number of
vacant properties (currently over 70,000) decreases. Building more
residential units will only serve to increase the number of vacant
dwellings. An increase in the number of dwellings on the Tigne’
peninsula will also generate more traffic and as a consequence further
deteriorate the air quality in the area”.
“MEPA 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. 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”
***
Il-Progett fuq il-Pjazza ta’ tas-Sliema se jzid it-tniggiz u t-traffiku – AD
Waqt konferenza stampa f’Tas-Sliema, l-Alternattiva Demokratika – the
Green Party, konfermat li l-progett propost se jzid fit-tniggiz ta’
l-arja u se jzomm eluf ta’ karozzi f’post diga kongestat.
Michael Briguglio, Chairperson ta’ l-AD u eks-kunsillier f’Tas-Sliema,
qal: “Il-progett huwa pjanat f’nofs zona diga` mifnija bit-traffiku.
Riċentement, studji ambjentali għall-MEPA juru li bil-proġett ta’
Townsquare se jkun hemm żieda ta’ 4,430 karozza kuljum fl-inħawi ta’
Qui-si-sana, biex b’hekk ikun hemm 28,874 karozza kuljum li tgħaddi
minn din iż-żona. Studji kkummissjonati mill-iżviluppaturi juru li
l-iżvilupp se jwassal għal iktar dellijiet fuq partijiet
mill-promenade ta’ Qui-si-sana u fuq partijiet mill-baħar u mill-blat,
u se jkollu impatt negattiv fuq il-veduta, li diġà se jkollha impatt
negattiv bl-iżvilupp ta’ Fort Cambridge u Tigne’ Point fil-viċin”.
“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.”
Is-silenzju tal-Kunsill Lokali ta’ Tas-Sliema qed jinhass hafna.
Jidher li l-Kunsill jinsab stagnat u totalment assenti u ineffettiv
fejn jidhlu kwistjonijiet ambjentali fil-lokal”.
Carmel Cacopardo, il-kelliem tal-AD ghall-Izvilupp Sostenibbli u
l-Gvern Lokali, qal: “Il-progett ta’ Townsquare irridu nharsu lejh
fil-kuntest ta’ erba’ fatturi importanti, li huma in-numru dejjem
jizdied ta’ propjetajiet vojta, il-generazzjoni tat-traffiku,
il-kwalita tal-arja u l-hsejjes li jgib mieghu it-traffiku”.
“Il-MEPA ma tistax tibqa’ tohrog permessi ghall-izvilupp qabel ma
n-numru ta’ propjetajiet vojta (li bhalissa jlehhaq aktar minn 70,000)
jonqos. Il-bini ta’ aktar postijiet residenzjali iservi biss biex
jizdied in-numru ta’ postijiet vojta”.
“Zieda fin-numru ta’ postijiet f’Tigne’ ser jiggenera aktar traffiku u
konsegwentement tkompli tiddeterjora l-kwalita tal-arja”.
“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.”
