Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1327039
4 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 JANUARY 2021 NEWS The Planning Authority has published proposed revisions to the policy map and building height map of Żabbar in the Malta South Local Plan. These proposed changes relate to the re-zoning of a site in Triq il-Marloċċ, Żabbar. This exercise is being carried out to enable the implementation of a green urban open space project by zoning a site currently made up of a road space junction between Triq il-Marloċċ, Triq San Ġużepp and Triq Salvu Astarita, Żabbar. This re-zoning will replace the zoning of another site which is in close proximity and is currently a planned green open space. This site, in Triq il-Marloċċ, is currently zoned as a planned green open space but will now be developable with a building height which shall not exceed three floors with a basement within a UCA Design Priority Areas. The proposed changes to the rezoning of these two sites as part of the partial review of the South Malta Local Plan may be downloaded from the Authority's website; www.pa.org.mt/consultation. Submissions may be sent to email address: smlp_consultation@pa.org.mt and must be received by Friday 05 th February 2021. www.pa.org.mt PLANNING AUTHORITY HAVE YOUR SAY OPEN PUBLIC CONSULTATION Partial Review of the South Malta Local Plan for a site in Żabbar (Phase 2 ) N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0 The Gozo Regional Development Authority will be launching its Vision Document during a business breakfast to be held at Grand Hotel in Għajnsielem, Gozo on FRIDAY, 29 TH JANUARY, 2021 You may register your interest in attending this business breakfast by submitting your name, surname and contact number to info@grda.com.mt or visit grda.mt Overall Voting PL Voting PN Won't vote Voted PL 2017 Voted PN 2017 Didn't vote 2017 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 84.2% 11.5% 85.3% 10.9% 89.8% 7.6% 70.1% 11.9% 18.0% 84.7% 10.8% 89.2% 8.8% 53.4% 15.3% 31.2% Yes No Don't know Male Female 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 85.0% 10.2% 83.1% 13.4% Yes No Don't know 16-35 36-50 51-65 65+ 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 74.4% 8.1% 17.4% 81.8% 5.7% 12.6% 90.0% 7.1% 92.2% 7.8% Yes No Don't know Primary Secondary Post-Sec Tertiary 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 93.8% 6.2% 83.5% 12.9% 80.1% 6.9% 13.0% 84.0% 10.8% Yes No Don't know Gozo Northern N Harbour S Eastern S Harbour Western 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 90.4% 79.5% 17.5% 91.9% 76.1% 9.5% 14.4% 85.4% 10.8% 76.1% 19.8% Yes No Don't know Will you take the COVID-19 vaccine? Political allegiance Gender Age Education Regional Pockets of resistance despite widespread belief in vaccine CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Although the World Health Organisation says that it is not yet known what proportion of the population must be vacci- nated against COVID-19 to start inducing herd immunity, some scientists have put forward the figure of between 70% and 80%. Although offered for free by the government, the COVID-19 vaccine take-up will be on a vol- untary basis. But if the MaltaToday survey numbers do materialise and peo- ple get the jab, achieving herd immunity does not appear to be a problem. The survey findings show that women are slightly more unsure than men as to whether they will be taking the vaccine. There are 83.1% and 85% of women and men respectively, who will take the jab. But 13.4% of women, as opposed to 10.2% of men, are unsure. Young people aged between 16 and 35 are the more sceptical, possibly a reflection of the cas- ualness towards the pandemic among this age group. The survey shows that 74.5% of young people will be taking the COVID-19 vaccine, 8.1% will not and 17.4% are unsure. The elderly, who were the hardest hit by COVID-19, are the most likely to take the vac- cine. The survey shows that 92.2% of those aged 65 and over will take the jab, while 7.8% are unsure. None of the elderly sur- veyed said they will refuse the vaccine. On a geographical basis, the Northern Harbour and Gozo have the highest numbers of people who will take the vaccine, 91.9% and 90.4% respectively. Scepticism is highest in the South-Eastern and Western re- gions where 76.1% of people who live there will take the vaccine. But almost 10% of people in the south east will not get the jab and 14.4% are unsure. In the Western region, a whopping 19.8% are unsure, while 4.2% will not get vaccinated. A breakdown of results by po- litical allegiance shows that La- bour voters are slightly more hesitant than Nationalists. The findings show that 89.2% of people who voted PN in the last general election will take the vaccine, while 84.7% of PL voters will do likewise. There are 8.9% and 10.8% of PN and PL voters respectively who are unsure as to whether they will take the coronavirus vaccine. And while 1.9% of PN voters say they will refuse the vaccine, the number increases to 4.5% among Labour voters. A significant level of scepticism is found among non-voters. Just over half (53.4%) will take the vaccine but almost a third (31.3%) are unsure and 15.3% will not take the jab. The survey clearly shows that people are very keen to get the COVID-19 vaccine but there may be pockets of resistance that the health authorities may want to address through informative campaigns. The young are one such cohort that may have to be targeted through outreach in places of education, entertainment and workplaces to encourage them to get vaccinated. The elderly, who were the hardest hit by COVID-19, are the most likely to take the vaccine