Controversial planning reforms enjoyed very little consensus, activists say

The vast majority of Bill 143 and Bill 144 got nowhere close to enjoying a consensus between developers and activists, MaltaToday has learned.

After Prime Minister Robert Abela promised that a future PL government would not forge ahead with planning reforms put forward last year unless consensus is reached, MaltaToday inquired about the consultation board meetings involving the bills.

The board was set up after the massive backlash caused by the proposed bills, which prompted a number of protests and condemnation.

Board member and Il-Kollettiv Segretary Wayne Flask was asked to explain which parts of the reforms enjoyed a consensus. Putting it frankly, he said that activists’ stance on the bills was clear; scrap Bill 143 altogether and only keep the planning appeals reform found in Bill 144.

Flask voiced frustration at the fact that after meeting with government on a few occasions, they were presented with a second draft of Bill 144 that was much worse than the first.

On Saturday, Abela was asked about what the future of the planning bills would be if he is re-elected as prime minister. In the midst of an election campaign, Abela yesterday acknowledged that parts of the reforms were “too ambitious” and that “society wasn’t ready for them.”

When Abela was asked to elaborate on which aspects he was talking about, he mentioned a “particular procedure” to bring green areas into the development zone. Another was the sanctioning of industrial areas.

“There's a huge difference between what the PM is saying and what actually happened. It's his Cabinet and staff who are unable to deliver a proper reform in favour of the people, for the first time in 11 years of construction boom,” Flask said.

Abela promised that if he is re-elected his government would not push forward aspects of the bills which didn’t enjoy a consensus.