Ombudsman demands immediate full publication of St Andrew’s-Pembroke plans
The Commissioner for Environment and Planning within the Ombudsman’s office has demanded that Infrastructure Malta immediately publishes its plans for road works at St Andrew’s-Pembroke, saying that it is not acceptable to say that the project is still in its infancy.
The Commissioner was replying to a complaint filed by independent candidate Arnold Cassola, who is a resident in the area.
In correspondence with Infrastructure Malta, the Ombudsman said that the entity has already been in touch with several stakeholders with whom the project was discussed.
The Commissioner said that it is not right that the public is given just a few days to raise its issues when the project is made public.
He therefore demanded that the plans are made public in the shortest time possible.
Infrastructure Malta has been given till the 10th of October to respond.
Infrastructure Malta issued a statement in response, arguing that it is following the process applicable in terms of planning laws to acquire the necessary permits for the Pembroke-St Julian’s connection project.
It said that it had submitted a planning application a few weeks after planning of the project was announced.
The agency’s architects, the statement read, began submitting the necessary documents after that and on 6 June, submitted the plans needed so that the PA can make them available to the public through the PA’s online public consultation system.
Since then, the statement read, the agency has answered every request for information and documents made by the authority and every other statutory authority involved in this process.
“Infrastructure Malta at no point tried to conceal anything regarding this application, as is being alleged.”
Since prior to the application process, the agency announced the project through a public statement on 4 May, and included “detailed designs that show the new roads and four tunnels to the public, in order to improve the arterial roads from the coast road to Pembroke, Swieqi and St Julian’s,” the statement read.
The agency said that since the project was announced, it began meeting with local councils and other concerned entities, residents and interested groups, making adjustments where possible, it said.
Infrastructure Malta said that it received no request from the complainant to be informed about the project and said that it has no objection for the competent authorities to publish the plans for this project through the applicable process.