Committees set up to discuss MEPA policies ‘behind the scenes’

Special committees set up to discuss "various MEPA policies behind the scenes" are a cause for concern to environment NGOs who are questioning whether the committees were functioning independently or whether they "reflect a Government agenda since they appear to be steered by pro-development individuals".

Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar coordinator Astrid Vella has claimed the Labour government appears to be "bent on satisfying every complaint that developers have against MEPA". This, she said, was being carried out at the expense of MEPA's responsibility to safeguard the islands' natural and cultural environment.

"This administration has conveniently forgotten the pre-election survey on environmental issues that showed that residents' overwhelming environmental concern is the over-development of our islands which they want stopped," Vella said.

She said it was worrying that Malta's top authorities spoke about the need to reclaim land or build higher: "Neither of this is needed since Malta has over 75,000 empty residential units."

"If this is the spirit that will guide the review of the Local Plans, then there is indeed cause for concern.  The fact that the authorities are already relaxing their pledge that there will be no change to the development boundaries is especially alarming," she said.

Vella insisted the importance of the Local Plans could not be understated as they would regulate Malta's environmental sustainability for the immediate future.

FAA questioned MEPA's commitment to public participation. It argued that the consultation was being launched in the summer months without an information campaign - and the rate of public participation is at its lowest ebb.

"The 2006 Local Plans, combined with the Rationalisation Plans and the raising of height limitations ruined our village urban cores, greatly reduced residents' solar rights and consumed more of the countryside for no reason other than to enrich one sector of the population at the cost of the public's health," Vella said.

"Nothing short of a courageous revision of those plans will set us on the path of sustainable urban planning and a decent quality of life, however the indications are far from hopeful."