Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/800760
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 19 MARCH 2017 News ALTERNATTIVA Demokratika – The Green Party has once more voiced its concern on overdevelop- ment and the taking up of more agricultural land, this time at Cumbo Tower on the Mosta pe- riphery, in the area along the Du- rumblat road. The land in question this time has a superficial area of around 38,600 square metres and the Planning Authority will tomorrow Monday decide as to what type of development will be permissible on the said land. The land was included as de- velopable in 2006 when the then government had included it in its rationalisation exercise. Then, the Labour Party in parliament had voted against the proposal but the Nationalist Party had voted in fa- vour of this destruction. A PC 039/09 foresees the devel- opment of three floors and a semi- basement with a building height of 17.5 metres above street level. The land in question is sub-divided into 93 plots. There are however eight other stretches of land which have not yet been apportioned into plots., which means that when this land is developed the total number of vacant dwellings will necessarily increase. "The last census held in 2011 had identified that out of 8,359 resi- dential units in Mosta, 16.2% were vacant and an additional 3.2% were only used occasionally. Then why do the authorities continu- ously encourage massive develop- ment?" asked AD deputy chairper- son, Carmel Cacopardo. There are other vast stretches of land which like this one in Mosta have been added within the devel- opment zone, including for exam- ple land in Triq Dun Mikiel Xerri on the periphery of Attard, close by. "AD invites the Labour Party, which way back in 2006 voted in Parliament against the devel- opment of this and other vast stretches of land, to be consist- ent and take the necessary steps if it has not changed its mind as a result of being elected in govern- ment," Cacopardo said. The NGO Flimkien għal Amb- jent Aħjar said the Labour Party had joined the protest in 2006 organised by eNGOs against the controversial rationalisation scheme, criticising the plans to take up more agricultural land for construction. "Now that the PL is in govern- ment and in a position to save what has not yet been built, it is revers- ing its position and allowing the rape of the land to increase, to the detriment of the health and quality of life of residents," the FAA said. The FAA said that it was sig- nificant that in 2016, the very year when permits for high-rise started to be approved, the PA also issued a record number of ODZ (outside development zone) permits. "This proves the fallacy of the politicians' mantra, repeated ad nauseam, that 'it is better to build up than build out', deplorably high- lighting the dishonesty of the Mal- tese planning system," the FAA said. "The takeover of agricultural land is happening all over the is- land, not just in Mosta. However a scenic site like Durumblat, where fields are still being worked next to historic Cumbo Tower, shows how greed is being allowed to de- stroy Malta's historic landscapes, the very essence of what makes Malta special, to the detriment of public health, well-being and the economy." AD, green NGOs in fight against Durumblat death knell The PA will convene on Monday to decide whether to accept construction on a stretch of agricultural land in Mosta