[WATCH] Planning Authority tribunal says NGOs, Sliema council can appeal Townsquare approval

The Planning Authority's appeals tribunal - the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal - has approved an appeal from the Sliema local council against the Townsquare high-rise project.

Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA), Friends of the Earth Malta, Ramblers Association of Malta and the Qui si-Sana Residents Association – the NGOs appealing the Planning Authority’s (PA) approval of the Townsquare and Mriehel high-rises - had vowed to continue fighting to protect the environment, despite the Planning Authority’s attempt to stop them from exercising their right to appeal.

They said today that had the EPRT decided differently, it would have set a dangerous precedent for the public's right to appeal.

In November, the PA, through its lawyer Robert Abela, had argued that the Sliema local council, the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) and green NGOs, had already been represented on the PA board when the project was approved and as such had “no right to appeal” the PA’s approval of the Sliema high-rise.

“As NGOs we represent thousands of our members who hold Malta’s environment, heritage and the health of its citizens at heart. NGOs are the voice of the people and of future generations, appealing in order to protect residents’ rights to liveable towns, where major projects such as these are preceded by full studies taking into account the impact of increased traffic, the load on existing infrastructure and social impact, not to mention the towers’ visual impact on Valletta’s World Heritage skyline and the vista of Mdina,” the NGOs said in a previous statement.

They said the PA’s attempt to try and eradicate their right to appeal is a monstrous attempt at censoring civil society, adding that it is “particularly deplorable” given that this right is clearly provided for at law.

“The PA wants to dictate who can appeal and who may not. It doesn’t want NGOs to appeal, nor does it want the ERA to appeal. This imposition is clearly beyond its remit – especially as the right to appeal is enshrined in the law. It is totally unacceptable for an authority to militate against civil society’s rights,” said FAA spokesperson Astrid Vella.

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