ODZ: PD demands Rural Policy and Design Guidance be immediately reviewed and amended

Partit Demokratiku (PD) has said it will be writing to the Parliamentary Committee on the Environment and Development Planning to put the Rural Policy and Design Guidance of 2014 on the agenda so that it can immediately be reviewed and amended.

PD yesterday highlighted another application for development on ODZ land in Wied il-Kbir, Ħal Farruġ, Luqa. The application, PD said, would demolish an existing disused farm to create warehouses and a car park.

Residents, Moviment Graffitti and the Luqa Local Council are all against the development, and Partit Demokratiku has now added its voice to prevent the distortion of the natural landscape in what is (a) an Area of High Landscape Value; (b) is in a valley; and (c) is protected under numerous other policy documents.

The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), PD said, also opposed the development application.

PD said: “This application attempts – and fails – to exploit the loopholes of the infamous Rural Policy, which allows developers to build on ODZ land where there were previously inhabited structures. Partit Demokratiku reiterates its longstanding call for the loopholes in the Rural Policy to be closed, as they are allowing tremendous abuse of Malta’s ODZ through misleading applications, such as this one.

“The construction of a car park and redirection of traffic to the site also calls for a Traffic Impact Assessment in the context of the surrounding natural area. For all of these reasons, and many others, Partit Demokratiku is staunchly against the development in Ħal Farruġ and calls for the closing of the Rural Policy loopholes.