Land next to Salini park expropriated for new school

An application has been presented for the expropriation of agricultural land next to the Salini Park where the government intends to build a new primary school, even as residents have started collecting a petition urging the government to find another site.

The school will be located in an area close to the Salini park, identified by the previous administration as a 7,000 square metre extension to the national park opened in 2008. 

An application to extend the park, which was already on the MEPA board’s agenda, was dropped in February.

The new school is required because the current one is considered too small for St Paul’s Bay’s growing population.

Since 2005, the population in St Paul’s Bay has grown by 23%, making the locality the third most populated in Malta, behind only Birkirkara and Mosta.

Asked whether the government had explored other options, such as locating the school on the site in Qawra which was transferred to the government by GO, a spokesperson for the minister insisted that the decision was taken after “various options” were considered.

The government also quelled speculation that it intends to sell the present school, set in an idyllic location on the coastline.

According to a spokesperson the development of the new school is intended to be “an additional school to the existing one”.

Residents raise health concerns

Residents who own houses opposite the park are arguing in a petition that continuous exposure to electro magnetic fields from Enemalta’s electricity distribution centre poses a danger.

But according to a government spokesperson, the Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools (FTS) has already assessed the impact of possible EMF exposures from the distribution centre located in the area with the results showing they are “below the maximum criteria”.

In their petition the residents claim that locating a school just metres from a distribution centre is objectionable, with scientific reports linking exposure to electro magnetic radiation with leukaemia. 

While acknowledging that medical data on the subject are not conclusive, the residents argue that it would be wiser to “take a pragmatic approach” and locate the school elsewhere.

They also refer to a European Council Recommendation of 12 July, 1999 on the limitation of exposure of the public to electromagnetic fields, which recognises possible implications of EMF on human health.

They also expressed scepticism about the study conducted by the Foundation for Tomorrow’s school.

“How can a study conducted in such a brief time conclude that the electricity distribution centre does not pose any threat on human health?” they ask.

In their petition residents also refer to the designation of Tal-Wileg as a Special Area of Conservation, which forms part of the Natura 2000 network of protected sites, and its agricultural value. The Natura 2000 site is located a short distance from the proposed school.

They also argue that the school will be located on an arterial road, exposing children to pollution from vehicles, which they expect to increase due to increased congestion resulting from the new school. Moreover located far from residential areas, the new school will not serve as a community hub as recommended by the local plan.