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MT 28 January 2018

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maltatoday SUNDAY 28 JANUARY 2018 News TIA RELJIC LAND speculators are being encouraged to buy up cheap ag- ricultural land to "turn it into a rural commercial goldmine", Democratic Party MP Godfrey Farrugia has warned. Farrugia was reacting to a planned review of the Planning Authority's fuel stations policy that prompted a 'gold rush' to relocate urban fuel stations, to motorways outside development zones on larger tracts of land. The review of the rules was announced last week by envi- ronment minister José Herrera, under whose purview the Envi- ronment Resources Authority falls. But Farrugia said that the PA had failed to encourage one sin- gle fuel station to relocate to a more suitable area since the pol- icy came out in 2015, despite the fact that the policy dictates this. "I expect that the PA embarks on a proactive approach which includes economic incentives to relocate, and impose a stand- ard maximum time limit for all urban stations to relocate with- in the conditions imposed as above." The policy approved in 2015 permits the relocation of petrol stations situated in urban areas, deemed to be unsafe, to ODZ areas where these can occupy 3,000 sq.m of land. Moreover it also permits brand new petrol stations near industrial areas, and so-called areas of contain- ment, which are transitional ar- eas between industrial zones and the countryside. This has encouraged a lucrative sale of fuel station licences to en- trepreneurs buying ODZ prop- erty for mega fuel stations. Despite the call for a review of the rules, which Herrera said could be "objectionable due to the detrimental impacts on the environment", it is ultimately the Planning Authority's executive council that will have to take the rules on board. The PA falls un- der transport minister Ian Borg's responsibility. Law yer Claire Bonello, a spokesperson for the eNGO Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar, said the policy is f lawed because it doesn't only deal with reloca- tion of pumps but also adds com- pletely new petrol stations with ancillary facilities, such as caf- eterias and services such as car- washing and panel beating. Rather than merely relocate petrol stations, she said that the policy encourages the conver- sion of ODZ land into a " huge commercial enterprise" – some- thing she described as "disgust- ing". "There is an alarming number of petrol stations and the policy needs to be amended to take into consideration how many petrol stations are actually needed. In light of the fact that Malta needs to abide by certain limits in re- gards to reduction of emissions and addressing the 'petrol-guz- zling mindset', it doesn't make sense to increase the number and size of fuel stations, particularly in this manner." Bonello said the inclusion of ancillary activities should be re- moved, and a clearer definition of where exactly the stations can be contained is necessary, as the policy is vague when describing where these can be placed. "The review of the policy is a start," Bonello said, adding that she is grateful the minister has at least taken it up. "I think ERA would be amena- ble, and I wouldn't like to think that the PA is deaf to common sense." But Godfrey Farrugia said that he does not trust the PA. "The PA has been exemplary in one thing: finding loopholes. It is anti-legal… I'm however con- fident that an agreement will be reached due to the involvement of the parliamentary commit- tee." The Democratic Party is ex- pected to submit its official proposals on Wednesday at the Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Development. Farrugia said the fuel stations policy does not fit in a long-term national plan and "does not sup- port Government's recent dec- laration that local transport should go electric by 2040." Instead, he proposes that appli- cations for new stations can only be accepted if an "established pre-defined scientific threshold" is not exceeded in the area. The threshold should be set based on projections in line with the national policy and the fact that vehicles will not require fuel by 2040. He also believes that it is im- perative for data on geographical density to be collected, and that the minimum distance between one fuel station and another has to be strictly kept and not exceed a minimum distance of 1.5km from the nearest fuel station, and areas of agricultural value and landscape or plateaus need to be strictly protected in all local plans. There are currently 77 fuel sta- tions in Malta and eight in Gozo. Chef Patron - Clion Grech former Executive Chef of Fortina Spa Resort. Mediterranean Cuisine. Open for lunch and dinner. Accepting bookings for private sta parties. Located on the outskirts of Naxxar - near the old Trade Fair grounds with easy parking. Marquis Scicluna Street Naxxar. • Tel: 2748 4554 • thevillagekitchennaxxar Marquis Scicluna Street Naxxar. • Tel: 2748 4554 • thevillagekitchennaxxar PA fuel station rules encouraging rural speulation

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