Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/335393
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 25 JUNE 2014 News 5 MIRIAM DALLI THE new structure plan devel- oped by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) has been given a general thumbs down, with the Church's environ- ment commission being the latest organisation to come out against the review. According to the Kummissjoni Interdjocesana Ambjent (KA), the policy outlined in the document fails to be an adequate replacement for the Structure Plan of 1990, hav- ing a shorter timeframe with 2020 as its target, and its failure to pro- vide official statistical information justifying its policies and propos- als. "Moreover, notwithstanding the extension of the period of consulta- tion, there has been no real attempt to motivate the general public to participate," the commission said. The Strategic Plan for the Envi- ronment and Development (SPED) is intended to replace the 1990 structure plan for the Maltese is- lands. The KA did welcome the SPED's attempt to clearly address the so- cial dimension in socio-economic development and insisted that the management of environmental resources and sustainable devel- opment should be officially un- dertaken by the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD). According to the KA, the SPED lacks a clear plan of action with clear informed policies, set dead- lines and an indication of whoever will be responsible for its imple- mentation. "As regards land use, the KA fails to see valid reasons justify- ing the 'minor adjustments' to the Development Zone boundaries when the supply of dwelling units is much greater than the demand," the Church's commission said. "KA cannot understand why SPED pro- poses no tangible and strict policies to control the unsustainability of local land development." While agreeing with the general principles of the National Spatial Strategy, the KA expressed strong reservations about the proviso made in the same section, allowing the government to bypass estab- lished policies. "The KA commends SPED for highlighting the link between health and the environment in is- sues related to development. But it sadly notes that the document does not even refer to the hazards caused by the fireworks industry." It slammed the document for a statement referring to the urgency of commissioning specific stud- ies relating to the issue, when lo- cal research on the health hazards related to fireworks residue was already available. The SPED, the KA insisted, even minimised the important role of education by not even referring to this issue. "The government must learn from past experiences and use SPED and any review of planning legislation to remove ambiguous and ill-ad- vised regulations and policies that have allowed individuals and or- ganisations to profit from resultant loopholes," the Church's commis- sion said. The commission also urged the government to be transparent and publish the names of all those re- sponsible in the compilation of such documents. "The sensitivity of documents like SPED cannot be underestimated since what is written in them will directly affect what happens on the ground. The SPED, in its current version, falls short of guaranteeing a solid step in practising sustain- able development at this level." A 68-year old man suffered life- threatening injuries in falling down a f light of stairs inside a block of apartments on Monday evening. The accident occurred shortly be- fore midnight, at around 11.45pm in Triq l-Oratorju, Naxxar. The police were informed by Mater Dei Hospital, where the man, 68, was admitted. He was certified to be suffering from life- threatening injuries. Experts were appointed to assist with a magisterial inquiry. Further investigations are underway. New Stucture Plan 'far cry from 1990' – Church environment commission The SPED lacks a clear plan of action with clear informed policies, set deadlines, and an indication of who will be responsible for its implementation Elderly man critical after fall Church's environment commission joins chorus of disapproval against MEPA's new strategic plan: 'SPED falls short of guaranteeing a solid step in practising sustainable development'