Agricultural land sacrificed for overdevelopment

● 2006 Rationalisation of Development Zone Boundaries exercise: ‘the destruction continues’

The Green Party Alternattiva Demokratika yesterday reiterated its concern about over-development and the taking up of more agricultural land at a press conference held on the outskirts of Mosta, next to Cumbo Tower.

“The last census held in 2011 identified that out of 8,359 residential units in Mosta, 16.2 per cent were vacant and an additional 3.2 per cent were only used occasionally. So why do the authorities continuously encourage massive development?” asked AD deputy chairperson Carmel Cacopardo.

This time, the land in question has a surface area of around 38,600 square metres, AD pointed out, and on Monday the Planning Authority will decide what type of development will be permissible on it.

AD observed that the land in question was deemed as developable in 2006 when the government included it in its rationalisation exercise. At the time, the Labour Party in Opposition had voted in Parliament against the proposal but the Nationalist Party had voted in favour of this “destruction”.

The Planning Authority will consider an application on Monday, which AD says, “...as a re- sult of which development of three floors and a semi-basement will be permissible development with a building height of 17.50 metres above street level.”

The land in question is sub-divided into 93 plots. There are, however, eight other stretches of land which have not yet been apportioned into plots, and when this land is developed the total number of vacant dwellings will necessarily increase, AD pointed out.

There are other vast stretches of land which like this one in Mosta have been added within the development zone, including for example land in Triq Dun Mikiel Xerri on the periphery of Attard, close by.

“Alternattiva Demokratika invites the Labour Party – which, way back in 2006, voted in Parliament against the development of this and other vast stretches of land to be consistent and take the necessary steps, if it has not changed its mind as a result of being elected in Government,” Mr Cacopardo said.

Remember addressing the protest march? FAA asks Muscat

Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, which was present at yesterday morning’s press conference, reminded this government that when in 2006 the eNGOs had organised a protest march against the Rationalisation scheme, Joseph Muscat had wanted to address the protest, criticising the plans to take up more agricultural land for construction.

“Now that the PL is in Government and in a position to save what has not yet been built, it is reversing its position and allowing the rape of the land to increase, to the detriment of the health and quality of life of residents,” FAA said.

“It is significant that, in 2016, the very year when permits for high-rise began to be approved, the Planning Authority also issued a record number of Out of Development Zone (ODZ) permits. This proves the fallacy of the politicians’ mantra, repeated ad nauseam, that ‘ it is better to build up than build out’ deplorably highlighting the dishonesty of the Maltese planning system.

“The takeover of agricultural land is happening all over the island, not just in Mosta. However a scenic site like Durumblat, where fields are still being worked next to historic Cumbo Tower, shows how greed is being allowed to destroy Malta’s historic landscapes, the very essence of what makes Malta special, to the detriment of public health, well-being and the economy.”

The site in Mosta