As Green Sliema local councillor, I endorse the objections made by various NGOs, including Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, BirdLife Malta, Friends of the Earth (Malta), Greenhouse, Nature Trust Malta, the Ramblers Association, Zminijietna Voice of the Left and Sliema Residents’ Association to the proposed development of about 23 blocks of apartments, some rising as high as 12 floors, in one of Sliema’s last remaining green lungs, namely the Villa Bonici site.
Both Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party and the Sliema local council are also objecting to the proposed development, which runs contrary to various MEPA polices, and MEPA was informed accordingly.
The proposed development shall take place on one of Sliema’s last remaining green lungs in an already congested area. There are major concerns about its effect on the quality of life of Sliema residents, who hoped that this place would be used as an open space which can enhance community life, and not overdevelopment which will further add to problems such as pollution and traffic congestion.
Any development of such a massive scale should involve an Environment Impact Assessment, a Social Impact Assessment and a Traffic Impact Assessment.
In all cases, proper scientific and social-scientific methodologies should be carried out, such as comprehensive sociological surveys. Hence, one hopes that MEPA does not resort to the half-baked impact assessments carried out for another massive case of overdevelopment in Sliema, namely Fort Cambridge.
It is pertinent to note that according to Sliema’s local plan, development in the Villa Bonici area requires a development brief, which does not yet exist. In itself, this should result in MEPA’s immediate refusal of the proposed development.
Michael Briguglio
Sliema local councillor,
Alternattiva Demokratika
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