Front Harsien ODZ wants transparency on Mosta hotel

A proposed 30-room spa hotel in an ODZ area in Mosta - previoously earmarked for a controversial shooting range that was later refused permit - has raised demands for full transparency, consultation  and for clear conditions from Front Harsien ODZ.

The lobby group said it wanted clear conditions imposed by the government to prevent any present or future development outside the footprint of the site. “Since this is public land being handed to private sector we demand full transparency on plans and consultation involving local communities and general public. Developers should not hide behind rhetorical discourse like describing a hotel as a retreat house but should present their plans in full," the Front said.

The Front also called on the government to be transparent by publishing all agreements with company and any agreements or contracts submitted in parliament. Any agreement should also exclude any development beyond the existing barracks and any expansion of the project in the future.

"The Front welcomes the declaration by GP Borg Construction that the project will be limited to the existing barracks and no further  construction will take place but insisted on the publication of all plans. The footprint should be restricted to the existing barracks and no odz land should be sacrificed for ancillary development including pools, pathways, car parks, infrastructure and other paved recreational areas. The traffic impact should also be studied in full, especially in relation to the site’s rural nature.”

Front Harsien ODZ also insisted that local communities should be consulted in full on the best use of the site in question before a final decision is made on allocating land to private sector.