Lija council opposes plan to build home for elderly on ancient olive grove

Lija council has unanimously approved a motion against a proposed application to develop a home for the elderly on a site in Mosta Street, Lija.

The council said that there are over 40 olive trees which are 400 years old on the site, which are protected by law. The site also forms part of a valley which is therefore protected, and is outside the development zone.

An application to develop the site had already been turned down in 1996, it said.

Alternattiva Demokratika - the Green Party yesterday issued a statement supporting the Lija council, as well as a large number of Lija residents and the environmental NGO Nature Trust who are against the proposed development.

"AX Holdings is once again involved in a proposal that lies outside the boundaries of the development scheme. We are concerned that a number of building contractors, with an abysmal environmental record, are always behind the development of open spaces.

"Unfortunately instead of investing their money in a creative way to make Malta more beautiful, these people are always proposing the building of more open spaces," AD said.