Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1513303
quality within the area." For this reason, and many others beside, the PA's own Environment and Resources Authority opposed the project, during the board meeting… … but then again: what's the point of even having an 'ERA', to begin with: when all its ob- jections are consistently 'over- ruled' by the Planning Author- ity Board… each and every single time? And the same question could be asked about 'public con- sultation exercises', too. The following example admittedly pertains to another case al- together – this time, the no- torious application to build an apartment block within a stone's throw from Gganti- ja temples, in Xaghra – but I am told that similar scenarios unfold in many such meetings (not just this one). This is how it was reported, on 11 November: "The eNGOs defending the historical set- ting of [Xaghra] at the Plan- ning Authority were dismayed to witness a repeat of the 'de- velop at all costs' approach that the politicians profess to be turning their backs on. "[…] the eNGOs noted how Victor Paul Borg, speaking on their behalf, had proven that the architect's streetscape drawing was misleading in its portrayal of neighbouring building heights, in order to justify the height of this build- ing. "Yet when the objectors quoted examples of nearby applications that had been re- fused, they were silenced by the Chairman, who repeatedly defended the application, ig- noring every policy infringe- ment raised by Victor Borg, Astrid Vella, (FAA) and Ro- mano Cassar, NGO represent- ative on the PA Board." Nor does the PA limit itself to ignoring (if not, downright 'silencing') only the NGOs, residents, other regulatory bodies - including, apart from ERA, the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage - when tak- ing these, and other decisions. Clearly, it also disregards all the evident RESULTS of its own past mistakes… … such as, for instance, the undeniable fact that the PA- VI-PAMA complex really HAS resulted in an overwhelming increase in traffic congestion, on the road leading towards Mosta: complete with all the 'degrading' impacts this is known to inflict, on the quality of life – not to mention health (both physical and mental) – of the town's residents and visitors, alike. All of which brings me to the headline's more 'modern' phrasing of that 800-year-old question. By how much, exactly, does the Mosta traffic congestion problem have to be exacer- bated, on account of the un- stoppable proliferation of 'multinational supermarket franchises' (in a town, please note, where nearly all existing streets are 'single-lane', and 'one-way')… before the PA fi- nally realises that the area's infrastructure simply cannot sustain the sheer volume of traffic, currently being divert- ed towards it? I hate to say it, but… that's what the 'P' part of 'PA' is sup- posed to actually stand for, you know. 'Planning': i.e., the ability to 'anticipate' – and, above all, 'cater for'– all the possible problems and con- tingencies, that might arise from what are, after all, YOUR OWN (GODDAMN) DECI- SIONS!!! But, oh well. I guess we'll just have to mentally readjust our understanding of that acro- nym… and start calling it the 'Polluting Authority', instead. Meanwhile, however, the same question has to be ex- tended beyond the confines of Mosta: which - although se- verely afflicted - is hardly the only Maltese town, to suffer the consequences of the PA's (lack of) 'Planning'. By how much does the qual- ity of our overall environment also have to be 'degraded' – to a degree which now affects even our most basic, daily movements (the ability to 'go from A to B', for crying out loud!) - by PA decisions that are clearly intended to only ever 'enrich the few, at the ex- pense of entire Maltese com- munities…' … before the people of this country finally do what Simon de Montfort did, way back in 1251, and… OPENLY REBEL? Just thought I'd ask, be- cause… you never know: his- tory does have a funny way of 'repeating itself', from time to time… maltatoday | SUNDAY • 17 DECEMBER 2023 OPINION 11 The Planning Authority has now approved a fourth massive supermarket complex, all within the same five-minute driving radius from the centre of Mosta What's the point of even having an 'ERA', to begin with: when all its objections are consistently 'overruled' by the Planning Authority Board… each and every single time?