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The decision by Environment Minister George Pullicino to endorse the local plans in the middle of summer and release them through MEPA, some weeks after the shameful rationalisation process is diabolical. The local plans were hastily agreed to by cabinet after years of procrastination and released with the specific intention of creating the least possible backlash from lobby groups and the public.
This is disgraceful.
But worse, is the attempt to hastily include development zoning to areas that are not within the spirit and letter of the Structure Plan. We will go further, the zoning determined by the local plans is ultra vires and is legally questionable since it conflicts with the Structure plan. The Structure plan can only be altered by parliament.
That the government ignores this fundamental procedure is shocking.
The Cabinet should be castigated for this move.
One of the more striking decisions was the inclusion of vast areas at Ta’ Cenc, Gozo into the zoning area.
This newspaper has from its first inception in November 1999 opposed development at Ta’ Cenc, the editor of this newspaper had also been imprisoned for protesting at Ta’ Cenc. The fact that a shareholder of this newspaper owns a property in the Ta’ Cenc area has not althered our editorial policy. We want Ta’ Cenc as is. That is where we stood and this where we stand today.
The legalistic argument against the local plans is that they fail to take into cognisance the Structure Plan, it also means that the whole MEPA board and cabinet are personally judicially responsible for this infringement. The Structure Plan only talks of limited development near the present hotel and does not envisage the development as outlined in the local plans.
We repeat, MEPA board and the cabinet could theoretically be held personally responsible for this illegal action.
The ecological argument is that the local plans are allowing for more development and bowing over to more insane construction. The arguments for more open undisturbed space far outweighs the arguments for more real estate. No environment impact assessment can overturn what exists in the Structure Plan.
The political argument is that this government – has lost the plot. It has no more green credentials, as the mainstream The Times rightly pointed out this week.
The mistake carried out by a former Labour politician of deciding independently without consultation and parliamentary debate has been repeated by George Pullicino.
The supreme influence of the politician far outweighs the technical and objective expertise of those supposedly involved in the planning process. Planning decisions should be taken away from the politicians and MEPA should be more conscious of its role and function.
MEPA have hit out at the National Trust, Din L-Art Helwa, MEPA have responded in record time in a most contemptible manner. MEPA is not a political party, it is a public ly funded agency and it should act as one.
The National Trust has argued that the local plans go against the Structure plan, we endorse their line of argument, but we plan to do more, we plan to support their cause and we call on our readers to actively support Din L-Art Helwa.
Ta’ Cenc is a not only an ecological and archaeological gem, it is also a symbol. It symbolises the fight against rampant speculation versus common sense. It is home to one of Gozo’s largest private open spaces.
Scrutiny of the local plans is a laborious task, in the plans one discovers various indications, including converting Hondoq ir-Rumien and Blue Lagoon as destination ports. We object to all of these, as much as we object to the conversion of Ta’ Cenc into a building site and a golf course. We object not for the sake of objecting, but because we believe enough is enough.
We will support civil society in its endeavour to contain the malaise of those who consider land to be useful for only one reason, real estate development. Just when Malta is supposed to be tasting some measure of European standards and directives and after two years in the European Union, we face the daunting task of fighting a government that has lost its soul and is hell-bent on destroying this Island.
This newspaper is steadfast behind Din l-Art Helwa and its 10,000 petition and all those who oppose the local plans and vision for converting Malta and Gozo into shades of grey and white.
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