AD slams Sliema local council's absence from Townsquare project

Alternattiva Demokratika (AD) said the proposed Townsquare project will increase air pollution and will increase the number of cars passing through an area, already congested.

The proposed Town Square tower on the site of the former Union Club in Sliema will include two high rise towers, one rising up to  23 storeys and another rising to 15 storeys. 

Originally the developers had proposed a 32-storey tower but the building heights were changed following discussions with MEPA.

AD Chairperson Michael Briguglio said that the proposed project is planned in the middle of an area which is already ‘plagued’ by heavy traffic flows.

“A revised environment impact study was produced and it confirmed that, as being proposed, Townsquare will increase air pollution and thousands of cars in an area already characterised by overdevelopment at Tigne’ Point and Fort Cambridge,” Briguglio said.

According to an Environment Impact Assessment study, an additional 4,430 vehicles in daily traffic in Qui-Si-Sana brought about by the proposed town square project will have a moderate increase in nitrogen oxide levels at Qui-Si-Sana and a slight increase at Gnien Bonello Dupuis.

“It would increase peak flows in the area from the present 24,444 to 28,874 vehicles,” Briguglio said. “Besides, studies commissioned by the developers showed that the development will result in further shading of parts of the Qui-Si-Sana promenade, the sea and the rocky foreshore and will have a major impact on the landscape”. 



Briguglio also hit at the Sliema local council who are being “silent” on the Townsquare proposal: “The council seems to be in a total stalemate and is conspicuous in its absence regarding environmental issues in the locality.”

 AD Spokesman on Sustainable Development Carmel Cacopardo said, the Townsquare project should be seen in the light of 4 important issues: “namely the ever increasing number of vacant properties, traffic generation, air quality and traffic generated noise.”

Cacopardo added that MEPA cannot keep issuing development permits until the number of vacant properties (currently over 70,000) decreases.

“Building more residential units will only serve to increase the number of vacant dwellings,” Cacopardo said. “An increase in the number of dwellings on the Tigne' peninsula will also generate more traffic and as a consequence further deteriorate the air quality in the area.”

Cacopardo said MEPA is legally obliged to ensure that the air quality limit values enforced by the Ambient Air Quality Directive are not exceeded anywhere around the Maltese Islands including Sliema. 

“Decision makers at MEPA should be held liable if residents of the area suffer adverse health effects,” he claimed. “Sliema residents have a right to air quality which is within the limits specified by the above mentioned Directive and they can petition the European Commission, if their right to clean air quality is not respected by the Authorities.”