MEPA betraying its mission, NGOs say after Tigné green light

MEPA's decision to green-light a tower block and two residential towers for Midi plc's Tigné Point will place more stress on roads, drains, and power supplies, conservationist NGO Flimkien ghal-Ambjent Ahjar said in its reaction to upcoming construction on the Tigné peninsula.

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority has approved the construction for MIDI's Tigné Point's T-14 tower block, and two 14-storey residential blocks, comprising just over 100 apartments.

The Sliema Residents' Association and Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar said the high-rise blocks were approved when MEPA's policy on high-rise development had not been properly ratified, and a warning in the 1992 local plan against building more apartment blocks.

"MEPA's Environment Protection Division only requested an updated visual impact study, which reported the impact to Sliema and Valletta residents as major impact, but went on to recommend approval. The NGOs ask why the Environment Protection Division ignored air quality, shading and social impact studies - highly inconsistent since it imposed such studies on other projects in the area - but not on this one.  There seems to be no concept that an environment impact assessment is not intended to block construction but to identify the best options."

FAA and the SRA said the Tigné North extension had been a prime example of poor consultation and procedure. "Impact studies are practically inaccessible and traffic impact studies have not been made available to the public. The 2 December 2011 public hearing did not meet legal requirements since it was advertised as being held from 3 to 5pm, but when residents turned up at 4pm MEPA officials had already left.

"The price of property is falling yet still more is being added to the stock - to the detriment of Malta, the financial well-being of the island and that of our banking system.  MEPA has betrayed its mission statement to 'ensure a quality of life that will be in harmony with the natural, cultural and built environment - in this hearing it was as if MEPA Reform had never happened'."