Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1101649
9 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 7 APRIL 2019 THE Democratic Party is fielding six local council election candidates, with a pledge to "put their localities' needs before partisan interests." The PD said its vision was based on the pillars of community build- ing, social responsibility and envi- ronmental stewardship. "We stand for the promotion of loyalty to the community and the nurturing of common good above bi-partisan- ship." The party's candidates are Timo- thy Alden, Ray Azzopardi, Mark Zerafa, Karen Vella Freeman, Charles Polidano and Manuel Far- rugia. PD deputy leader Timothy Alden, standing in Sliema, said that each locality's unique cultural and social identity should be protected. "Local government must manage the well- being of the community by foster- ing a sense of ownership and civic sense, through active citizenship. "It can be hard to get things done due to tribalism. PD is to be the bridge between the other parties, composed of people from all back- grounds and walks of life. We want to put our loyalty to the locality and our country first, before partisan in- terests," he emphasised. Tarxien candidate Manuel Farru- gia said the Tarxien local council was divided, and that the PD would respectfully serve in the public's best interests. Karen Vella Freeman, standing for election in St Paul's Bay, said the multi-cultural community faced several challenges, and that she would be striving to contribute to- wards a cleaner environment and better road infrastructure. Ray Azzopardi, candidate for St Julian's, said that if elected he would be ensuring that issued permits and licences operated according to the conditions imposed on them, lead- ing to less noise and air pollution, and a better quality of life. The other candidates are contest- ing in Qrendi (Charles Polidano) and Birkirkara (Mark Zerafa). NEWS JAMES DEBONO THE Superintendence for Cultural Heritage has con- demned "unsightly" and ille- gal works carried out in the past years near the Ta' Ħaġrat temples, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The works were carried out within the area of archaeolog- ical importance, around 60m just off Ta' Ħaġrat. The site owners recently re- quested that an illegal parking area which serves a nearby car repair shop, be regularised. Plans envisage parking spaces for seven cars, outside devel- opment zones. An enforcement order against an illegal scrapyard in this area was also issued in 1996 but no action was taken to remove the illegality. The developers have only recent- ly removed illegalities in the area in a bid to regularise the ODZ parking area. In 2016 the owners applied for the construction of a ga- rage for parking and the stor- age of autoparts, but this was squarely refused by the Plan- ning Authority. The Superintendence noted that previous works on the site were unauthorised and unmonitored, and may have resulted in accidental dis- coveries. "Any unreported accidental discoveries made during unmonitored works are to the detriment of the ar- chaeological record and limit our understanding of features forming part of the cultural landscape." The Superintendence has warned that approval of the latest application to sanction the parking area "may jeop- ardise the World Heritage Status of the UNESCO in- scription". Together with Ġgantija, Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra and Tarxien Temples Complex (all megalithic temple sites), Ta' Ħaġrat Temples have been included under the inscrip- tion 'The Megalithic Temples of Malta' as a recognised UN- ESCO World Heritage Site. As a state party to the UN- ESCO World Heritage Con- vention, Malta is obliged to safeguard the site and its sur- roundings on behalf of the in- ternational community. Din l-Art Helwa, the Ar- cheological Society and Flim- kien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar are also objecting to the regu- larisation of the car park. The placement of the site at only 60m away from the UNESCO Ta' Ħaġrat temples is "fur- ther testament to the com- plete disregard that the ap- plicant has shown towards… the protection of our national heritage and is indeed further reason to ensure that this abusive form of development is not encouraged and ena- bled by the Planning Author- ity," FAA spokesperson Tara Cassar said in her objection to the proposed regularisation. Parking area threatens world heritage status of Ta' Hagrat MASSIMO COSTA ALTERNATTIVA Demokratika has put forward nine local council and two Eu- ropean Parliament election candidates, with a manifesto pledging a revamp of Malta's inaccessible infrastructure and to control unbridled development. The Green Party said it is placing the safeguarding of the urban environment as a priority for the elections, underlin- ing the effects of environmental disre- gard on various localities, the lack of a national strategy for transport and in- adequate infrastructure on the island's roads. In comments to MaltaToday after holding an extraordinary general meet- ing yesterday, AD chairperson Carmel Cacopardo, who is running in both the local and European elections, said he was hoping for better results this year than in previous outings. Cacopardo acknowledged that the party's popularity rankings in the polls had not seen any major improvements in recent years, but said the indications were encouraging when it comes to how AD will perform in the local council elections. "I don't have huge expecta- tions for the MEP elections… although you never know. However, we are plac- ing our emphasis on the local councils, where I fully believe we will do well," he said. AD's nine candidates will be contesting the local council elections in St Julian's, Attard, Mellieha, Marsaskala, Birkirka- ra, Naxxar, Zebbug, Gzira and Xghajra in Gozo. Cacopardo will be contesting the lo- cal elections in St Julian's, as well as the European elections together with fellow candidate Mina Tolu. Addressing the meeting, Cacopardo highlighted the issues Malta was fac- ing due to excessive development, lack of environmental planning, a lacklustre public transport system, and roads and pavements which had been taken over either by cars or by restaurant tables. "St Julian's has been a victim of a large amount of development which is affect- ing residents badly," he said, as he out- lined several problems which plagued some of the towns where AD would be running for seats on the local councils. "In several localities, people have be- come prisoners in their own homes because tables occupy the sidewalks," he said. "In Birkirkara, carelessness has led to problems caused by heavy rain," he said, noting the fact that many build- ings built in the last 50 years had no wells, leaving vast quantities of water on the roads after every heavy downpour. "Birkirkara is also a victim to the incom- petence of the administrations through- out the years." Cacopardo said the country needed a national transport strategy, together with greater investment in public trans- port. "And local infrastructure has to focus more on better accessibility for cyclists and pedestrians. Cars have taken over our roads, businesses have taken over our pavements – we want them back." Cacopardo said AD will urge the gov- ernment to use some of the €700 million it had put aside for the resurfacing of all of Malta's roads, to reconstruct pave- ments which were in no state for pedes- trians to use. AD warning on towns: 'People prisoners in their own homes' PD presents local council candidates From left: Mark Zerafa, Emanuel Farrugia, Karen Vella Freeman, Timothy Alden, Charles Polidano and Ray Azzopardi The works were carried out within the area of archaeological importance, around 60m just off Ta' Hagrat