Four councils file protest over Sant'Antnin plant

Four local councils yesterday filed a judicial protest against the Malta Environment and Planning Authority and WasteServ Malta Ltd over the planned Sant Antnin waste recycling plant.

The protest was filed by the councils of Tarxien, Fgura, Gudja and Ghaxaq.

The councils declared that they had complained to Mepa about the outline development application submitted by WasteServ in order for the company to demolish an existing plant and to construct, instead, a material recovery facility, a mechanical treatment plant, a digestion plant and a composting plant.

According to the councils the proposals made by the company were in violation of the National Structure Plan for the locality, and the size and activity of the proposed structure would cause irremediable harm to the health of persons in the localities.

Furthermore, the substantial increase in the number of vehicles that would transport waste to the plant would also be detrimental to the health of the inhabitants of the area and the value of their properties would also be adversely affected.

The councils claimed that the company had to carry out a serious comparative study about the proposed development together with evaluations of alternative sites for the development.

The alternative sites were in Kalkara, Ghallies, Birzebuga and Marsascala.

Although there was a discrepancy in the areas of this site when compared with that of Sant'Antnin, the application had continued to be processed, and it was confirmed that the only suitable site was that of Sant'Antnin.

In yesterday's protest the councils declared no serious and correct comparative analysis had been carried out and that the terms of reference established by Mepa had not been adhered to.

The councils claimed that it was obvious that Mepa was determined, a priori to approve the application filed by WasteServ despite the objection of the councils.

Mepa was called upon to revise its decisions and to withdraw the approval of the company's application.

The protest was signed by lawyer Tony Abela.