Alternattiva Demokratika - Attard Press Conference 10th April 2010

PR10/04/2010 Lawrence Gonzi policies favour speculators

Alternattiva Demokratika held a press conference together with residents in Attard to highlight the effects of the 2006 rationalisation scheme, approved by Lawrence Gonzis cabinet and parliament. Then planning process for development of land in Attard has in fact started (see application PC/00066/09). This is just one area in Malta and Gozo given over to speculators by Lawrence Gonzi.

Ralph Cassar, who is an AD councillor in Attard said:We are here to highlight the effects of governments bad policies. This large tract of land has been given for development thanks to the 2006 rationalisation scheme. It was government and parliament which has decided this favouring speculators over residents. From all other parties Alternattiva Demokratika was and is the only one which has consistently that the rationalization scheme does not make any sense in a country full of empty property. We started a court case and held various meetings with residents to raise awareness but Lawrence Gonzi and his MPs in parliament decided otherwise. MEPA only follows government policy the blame for this state of affairs lies squarely with the Prime Minister and his government. Some residents are being approached by government MPs (including by Government whip David Agius) the same ones who voted in favour of extending the development zones promising to help them.
This is pure opportunism and hypocrisy for when these MPs could do something they went along and voted in favour of governments bad policies. On the one hand these MPs say one thing, then when it really matters they approved Lawrence Gonzis governments policies. Once again AD asks for a revision of the local plans to make them more community friendly. One very important aspect would be to increase public open spaces.

Carmel Cacopardo, AD Spokesman on Sustainable Development and Local Government said that overdevelopment at Attard has to be seen within the context of an ever increasing number of vacant dwellings spread all over the island. The number of such dwellings was identified at 54,000 during the 2005 Census and it has been on the increase ever since. The increase of the zones earmarked for development has been decided exclusively on political criteria. This is the real reason for the refusal to submit these changes to a Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA). There was more than sufficient time to carry out an SEA during the period between 2000 and 2006 when the Local Plans remained in draft form. An SEA would have assessed all the impacts of areas allocated to development. In particular it would have considered the cumulative impacts of the large scale development going on all over the island.With so many vacant dwellings who are the new dwellings being built for ?, asked Cacopardo.

Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said: 'Unfortunately both the Nationalist and Labour Parties are characterised by an ideology which puts endless development at the expense of people's quality of life and environmental protection. This is hardly surprising considering the fact that both parties depend on financing from big business are not ready to introduce transparent legislation on the financing of political parties. The environment is a political issue and people have the power to change things through their vote. With AD in parliament, sustainable development, quality of life and environmental protection will be given priority, and not the interests of development speculators'.

Photos: www.flickr.com/alternattiva

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[Wrapped4]

The only party that deserves to be voted.

[Dreamstate87]

awesome!