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Speaking in front of the newly built St Benedict College in Hal Kirkop, limits of Safi, Alternattiva Demokratika put forward yet another case in which it claimed MEPA has lost all sense of logic, direction and credibility. With a backdrop of the tonnes of soil which have been recently excavated to make way for yet another Supermarket, AD Deputy Chairperson Stephen Cachia slammed the recent go ahead given to this development since it constitutes another series of irregularities.

Mr Cachia said that AD is seriously concerned about the present structure of MEPA being more in favour of development than the environment and planning authority it claims to be. Flanking the AD officials was once again Carmel Cacopardo, former Deputy General Secretary of the Nationalist Party who commented on the fact that the Directorate of Planning (within MEPA itself) had submitted a recommendation to refuse the application.

Besides this, Architect Carmel Cacopardo said that even the Department of Agriculture had objected to this development with a letter dated 27th October 2006. Above all this, the local Plan identified this land as agricultural in nature. As usual, the relative DCC overturned this recommendations without any valid reason. Ironically its go ahead was based on the fact it will not undermine the Agricultural policy, it will not cause any traffic problems and that it is essential for the local community.

Carmel Cacopardo queried what use is it to have a Local Plan if its policies are ignored where it really matters. No one blames anybody for suspecting that this is yet another result of the politics and construction industry affinity. With such decisions the Local Plans become a smokescreen.

Mr Saviour Sammut (AD spokesperson for the South of Malta) said that the land earmarked for development forms part of a landscape which the Local Council of Hal Safi pledged to turn into a Belveder overlooking a picturesque view of tilled, ploughed and farmed fields and other distant views of parts of Malta. Saviour Sammut asked whether the Local Council of Hal Safi is still to do what it has pledged and queried what sense it will make of having people sitting on benches overlooking truckloads of merchandise and groceries stocking up this Supermarket. Mr Sammut said the reasons of the DCC at MEPA are all conveniently in favour of the developer. He said that MEPA cannot be believed that this land which until the development commenced was still tilled and farmed is not of any agricultural value. Nor that it will not cause any traffic inconvenience. Mr Sammut said that it is already increasingly difficult to drive in this road with cars being parked on both sides of the road since there is not enough space for cars in the presincts of the College for teachers’ and College staff’s cars let alone when this supermarket starts to function.

Mr Sammut claimed that it is evidently very convenient to say that this development is essential for the local community, any development may offer short term benefits but in the long run this development has paved way for more destruction to the local and national environment. Saviour Sammut said, “The category of this development is ‘Outside Scheme’. If the DCC (Development Control Commission) wants to be taken seriously it should have upheld the DPA recommendations and refused outright this development in a green area which serves as a buffer zone/green belt between the two villages of Hal Safi and Hal Kirkop. Now it will serve as an excuse for construction activity to put a foothold on this area of fields to further develop it into yet another urban sprawl. Sammut reiterated AD’s policy, including the need to give the MEPA Auditor total autonomy from the politically appointed MEPA board. He called for MEPA to be split into two separate authorities, one for planning, and the other for environmental protection; two authorities directly under the supervision of parliament. He said that, the Greens will keep on working for a thourough reform in MEPA, once the electorate votes AD into parliament.

“Alternattiva Demokratika feels that even though it is still not represented in parliament, it still has achieved a lot for our country. And this only goes on to prove that with AD elected in parliament much more will be achieved” concluded Mr Sammut.

Another speaker was Ms Maryanne Zammit, on behalf of the ADZ - Green Youth, the youth section within Alternattiva Demokratika. She said it was a great pity that such development was being approved in the vicinity of the newly built St Benedict College. It will surely threaten the safety of incoming and outgoing students. Ms Zammit concluded that Education should put an emphasis on a holistic approach, i.e. not only education but the need of space and good quality air to breathe whilst such a decision undermines all this.