Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party has through its Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo submitted an objection to the proposed development of a high rise building, 14 floors high (three of which below street level) in Mdina Road Ħaż-Żebbuġ for the construction of what is being referred to as the Toyota Tower.

This objection is being submitted as it conflicts with planning policy applicable to Żebbuġ. For the application to be considered it had to observe the maximum applicable height for the area, this being 17.5 metres. Instead the developer is requesting more than twice the permissible height, that is 36 metres.

Samuel Muscat, AD candidate for the Żebbuġ Local Council said “this application should be refused not only because it infringes planning policy but also because it would ruin the Żebbuġ skyline as well as because it will contribute to further deterioration of the quality of life of residents in the surrounding area. This will occur not only due to the large amount of traffic which the development will generate and the relevant impacts on air quality, but also due to the proposed high-rise shadowing the neighbouring residential property, consequently impacting the efficiency and utility of  the already installed photo-voltaic panels.”

Carmel Cacopardo concluded that: “developers are unfortunately being allowed to ride roughshod on residents’ rights. Apparently it is now the turn of Żebbuġ. Alternattiva Demokratika in solidarity with residents of Żebbuġ is opposing this development application.”

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Żvilupp insostenibbli: Issa jmiss lil Ħaż-Żebbuġ

Illum, Alternattiva Demokratika, permezz taċ-Chairperson tal-Partit Carmel Cacopardo ippreżentat oġġezzjoni għall-applikazzjoni ta’ żvilupp biex jinbena torri ta’ 14-il sular (bi tlieta minnhom taħt l-art) fi Triq l-Imdina Ħaż-Żebbuġ, dak li qed nirreferu għalih bħala t-torri tat-Toyota.

L-oġġezzjoni qed issir għax ir-regoli tal-ippjanar ma jippermettux li żvilupp ta’ din ix-xorta jsir f’Ħaż-Żebbuġ. L-applikazzjoni biex tkun ikkunsidrata kellha tosserva l-għoli massimu permissibli u ċjoe ta’ 17.5 metri. Fil-fatt l-applikazzjoni qed tipproponi għoli ta’ iktar mid-doppju, 36 metru.

Samuel Muscat, kandidat ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika għall-Kunsill Lokali ta’ Ħaż-Żebbuġ qal “din l-applikazzjoni m’għandiex tkun approvata mhux biss għax tmur kontra l-politika tal-ippjanar imma ukoll għax tistona mal-bini tal-madwar kif ukoll għax ser ikollha impatt negattiv fuq il-ħajja tar-residenti. Dan ser iseħħ kemm bħala riżultat tal-ġenerazzjoni ta’ ammont esaġerat ta’ traffiku u l-impatti ta’ dan fuq il-kwalità tal-arja, imma ukoll minħabba li t-torri propost bid-dellijiet tiegħu ser inaqqas konsiderevolment l-utilità tal-pannelli fotovoltajċi fuq il-bjut tar-residenzi tal-madwar.”

Carmel Cacopardo ikkonkluda billi qal: “l-iżviluppaturi sfortunatament tħallew irabbu l-arja u kontinwament qed jippruvaw ibqghu ghaddejjin minn fuq id-drittijiet tad-residenti. Issa jidher li waslet id-daqqa ta’ Ħaż-Żebbuġ. B’solidarjetà mar-residenti ta’ Ħaż-Żebbuġ, Alternattiva Demokratika qed topponi din l-applikazzjoni ta’ żvilupp.”