‘Not all permits in compliance with the law’ – AD

"The government has opted once more for the rule of the jungle in land use planning," according to Alternattiva Demokratika sustainable development spokesperson Carmel Cacopardo.

This statement was made in response to the government's announcement yesterday that all development permits issued after August 2006 will be renewed automatically until 2014.

'During the recent electoral campaign, PL promised it would be a party for developers. With yesterday's press conference addressed by Parliamentary Secretary Michael Farrugia, it has fulfilled its electoral pledge," Cacopardo said.

He expressed concern that because of this extension, permits which had been subject to the "normal" procedure for renewal but had their request denied by the Commission would also be renewed.

"Such cases will now be reopened in full defiance of the rule of law," he said.

"It is wrong to assume that, once a permit was issued after 3 August 2006, it is in line with policies established in the local plans. A number of permits do not conform to the Local Plan policies. In this category one finds a number of permits approved during the period February-March 2008," Cacopardo said.