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8 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 5 JUNE 2019 NEWS JAMES DEBONO THE Superintendence for Cultural Heritage has ex- pressed its "surprise" that applications for the develop- ment of fuel stations are still being considered, "even dur- ing the consultation period for the updated Fuel Stations Policy". The Planning Authority recently published a draft new policy effectively bans relocations of petrol sta- tions on agricultural land. But the new policy set to replace the more liberal pol- icy approved in 2015, is still awaiting approval following a public consultation which expires on 14 June. Transport minister Ian Borg has already declared that the Planning Author- ity cannot postpone pend- ing applications to after the new policy is approved, warning that this could lead to court procedures by ap- plicants. The application on which the Superintendence was making its comments was submitted on 8 May just nine days before the policy revision was announced. The application proposes the removal of a single, cur- rently disused fuel pump from Pjazza Savina in Rabat, Gozo and to construct a new fuel station outside develop- ment zones, including car wash, cafeteria, mechanical shop, tyre service garage, valeting garage and parking area on agricultural land in the limits of Birzebbuga. The Superintendence ex- pressed concern on the scale and intensity of devel- opment proposed outside the buildinh zones and the detrimental effect this will have on the natural and cul- tural landscape. "The Maltese landscape is the result of interaction between natural and hu- man activity from which it takes on cultural signifi- cance. The perception of such landscapes recognises the scenic value and is an important element of the Maltese national and cul- tural identity," it said. The Superintendence ex- pressed "apprehension" at such a development, insist- ing that the planning, man- agement and protection of Maltese landscapes is to be guided by the principles enshrined in the European Landscape Convention. Malta was one of the origi- nal signatories of the con- vention in 2000 but failed to ratify the Convention in 2010 and in subsequent years. Superintendence 'surprised' fuel stations still considered despite policy review JAMES DEBONO THE percentage of Maltese who think that biodiversity is "very much" threatened by in- frastructural projects has shot up by 11 points since 2015, a European Commission survey on attitudes towards biodiver- sity reveals. 58% now think that biodi- versity is under a considerable threat by infrastructural pro- jects in contrast to 43% of re- spondent in all member states. Concern on infrastructural projects is only higher in Cy- prus where 64% consider in- frastructural projects as a great threat to biodiversity. According to the Eurobarom- eter survey, the Maltese are now the second most likely in Europe to think that Maltese biodiversity is "very much" threatened by infrastructural projects and by the expansion of urban areas. The recently published sur- vey which was carried out in December comes in the wake of an onslaught of road widen- ing projects and plans to link Malta and Gozo with a tunnel infrastructure passing through pristine natural areas like Pwales. While 47% of respondent in all EU 28 member states think that biodiversity is "very much" threatened by urbani- sation, the percentage rises to 64% in Malta. The concern is only higher in Cyprus where 71% replied likewise. Only 4% of Maltese think ur- banisation does not pose any threat to biodiversity. The number of Maltese re- spondents who now think that biodiversity is very much threatened by urbanisation has shot up by 7 points since 2018. The survey also shows a greater awareness of Natura 2000 sites, with the percent- age of Maltese who have heard about them increasing by 16 points 2015. Still 42% of the Maltese have not even heard about Natura 2000 sites. But the percent- age is even higher in other EU member states. In fact 70% of all EU respondents have not heard of this network of pro- tected sites. The actual percentage of Maltese who have not only heard of Natura 2000 sites but actually understand what this designation entails has now reached the 25% mark, up 8 points since 2015. The survey also shows a great- er opposition in Malta towards economic development in pro- tected Natura 2000 zones. In ten member states, at least half of respondents say dam- aging economic development in these areas should be pro- hibited, and this is particularly the case for those in Portugal (68%), Malta (63%) Italy (60%) and Cyprus (59%). At the other end of the scale, 28% of re- spondents in the Netherlands and in Denmark say the same. Big projects threaten environment, Maltese tell EU survey Infrastructural work pose increased threat to environment, with survey showing 11-point rise in Maltese who think so Only 4% of Maltese think urbanisation does not pose any threat to biodiversity This miniscule kerb side petrol pump in Pjazza Savina in Victoria is being used as a pretext for the development of a massive fuel station on 3,000sq.m

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