Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1186350
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 20 NOVEMBER 2019 MASSIMO COSTA THE Church's Environment Commission has warned that the proposed American Uni- versity of Malta extension would harm Cottonera resi- dent's wellbeing and quality of life and dis-rupt the area's historical heritage. The extension also runs counter to the planning frame- work of the Grand Habour Local plan, which requires that "generally, buildings or structures must not obscure or overpower the bastions them- selves", and that "incongruous buildings piercing the skyline will not usually be accept- able," the Commission said in a statement on Tuesday. The Commission said it be- lieved that the proposed pro- ject was a clear example that plan-ning in Malta is increas- ingly at risk of serving the in- terests of the few, at the ex- pense of the wider interests of the community and the public. "The application to occupy some of the few remaining open spaces in the heart of Cotton-era, in order to accom- modate facilities for AUM, is a clear example of these dan- gers," it said, "When so many doubts have been expressed about the need or even the usefulness of these facilities, and when they are evidently not in the best interest of the people of Cot-tonera, one can- not but be gravely concerned about who is being served by planning in this country." The Environment Commis- sion expressed its solidarity with Cottonera Citizens who are spoke out to safeguard the environment of the area for present and future gen- erations, and said it hoped the application would be refused. The Commission's state- ments come after Cottonera residents staged the second protest in as many months against the extension, insist- ing that they would not give up the fight to protect their towns. AUM extension threatens residents' wellbeing and historical heritage The proposed extension for the American University of Malta