Gas and electric vehicle station proposed on ODZ land; NGO hits out at proposal
An application has been filed for an electric and gas-powered vehicles charging station, along other facilities including a shop, on ODZ land in Qormi.
This newsroom asked the Planning Authority (PA) to clarify whether such developments still fell under the fuel stations policy. The PA responded: “Electric and gas-powered vehicles charging stations fall under the fuel station policy and all its provisions apply.”
The application is for a site on Mdina Road, Qormi, and includes a retail outlet, staff facilities, a car wash, photovoltaic panels on the roof and the erection of signs. The plans show the ability for ten cars to electrically charge or utilise the gas units simultaneously, as well as having six car wash stations. The total site area, as indicated in the plans, is 3,556 square metres. The current fuel station policy allows new stations of up to 3,000 square metres.
The fuel stations policy is currently under review following public uproar over the number of fuel station applications being filed with the Planning Authority. In addition, many questioned why so many petrol and diesel pumps were needed when the
government had already indicated its intention to move the country towards electric vehicles. The review proposals, as presented by the ERA, would mean that fuel stations will have to be at least 1.5 kilometres apart. The current distance limit between any station is 500 metres. The proposals would also mean that the footprint is reduced from the current 3,000 to 2,000 square metres.
This application is still in its early stages. So far, Transport Malta has said that the application may require a Traffic Study. The Environment and Resources Authority also believes that the project qualifies for the submission of a Project Description Statement, and has also requested further information from the applicant.
FAA co-ordinator Claire Bonello, speaking to The Malta Independent, said that “this is yet the latest pathetic excuse being brought up for ruining ODZ land - the eco-wash about this being about the need to have electrical and gas-charging stations. There is a need for such stations but absolutely no need for them to be situated on ODZ sites.”
She said that some might argue that such stations are present abroad, “yet I suggest we observe carefully what goes on abroad and not copy what goes on in foreign jurisdictions mindlessly without keeping the local context in mind.”
“Abroad, supercharging stations are situated outside the urban area (although not exclusively) because of the long distances that people have to cover between one town and another. You could conceivably get stuck on the highway without charge. That is not the case in Malta, where you can basically roll from one town to another on a skateboard.”
“If this application is approved, it will provide even more proof that the vile Fuel Station Policy was never about relocation for safety reasons but a mechanism to enable speculators to buy cheap ODZ land and build commercial properties on it. First they told us with wide-eyed concern that they thought it vital to relocate fuel stations away from people for safety concerns, now they are actually encouraging people to drive out in the countryside to fuel up (now with electric charging points where there is no issue of danger to residents). It’s more see-through than Rihanna’s chain-link dress at the fashion awards.”
With regard to ancillary facilities, she said: “Let’s stop the pretense about them having to be related to fuel station.”
“We’ve just had a very extensive consultation on this issue, ERA came up with some very sound proposals which met the approval of all, and yet the fuel station policy has not been changed – precisely so that applications like this can be approved by the Planning Authority which pretends that its hands are tied. Where does it stop?”
She explained that supercharging stations on arterial roads might lead to actual physical congestion of vehicles as charging is not instant. “We have to be careful not to create another problem.”
She said that there is no need to have massive charging stations on every conceivable open space. “Most electric car batteries these days have a large capacity with a range of 190 kilometres or more. Some models can travel nearly 400 kilometres between charges. So it is unlikely that we’re going to run out of charge.” She also spoke about the need to provide incentives for home charging, as well as the requirement for charging points to be installed in supermarkets and /or public car parks as a planning obligation.