Armier boathouses should be demolished – AD

Alternattiva Demokratika said MEPA should not sanction the illegal boathouses at Armier by approving an application made by Enemalta for an €82,000 electrical substation to improve the power supply for the squatters’ village.

The boat houses should be demolished and such a practice should be consistent with all illegal development according to AD.

Both Nationalist and Labour Parties were urged by AD to take a stand on the issue.

"Enemalta’s application for the construction of a substation to service the Armier shanty town should be refused, and MEPA should demolish illegal boathouses. By submitting the application, Enemalta is making a public statement that it supports two weights and two measures,” AD Spokesman on Sustainable Development and Home Affairs Carmel Cacopardo said.
Cacopardo added that Enemalta should be condemned without reservation for submitting the application.

"MEPA should establish without further delay the date when the demolition of the Armier shanty town is to commence", Cacopardo said.

“AD endorses the position of environmental NGOs against such development. Unlike other political parties, we are not being held ransom by lobbies who usurp public land for private use. The Nationalist and Labour Parties should immediately declare their position on the issue,” AD Chairperson Michael Briguglio said.

Several environmental NGOs, including the Ramblers’ Association and Din l-Art Helwa, expected the application to be refused and disposed by MEPA in order to be reasonable, right and morally just.

The MEPA board was advised by the Planning Directorate in early December 2011 to turn the application down during the scheduled meeting to be held tomorrow.
If approved the substation would cover a total floor area of about 40m² with an overall height of four metres and would result in taking up further rural land in order to service the illegal beach rooms.  

Enemalta, which already supplies 110 illegal boathouses with electricity, said that the substation would provide adequate electrical distribution and address the low voltage problem at Armier.