German Green MEP in Malta next week to discuss proposed Ghadira road

German Green MEP Michael Cramer, a specialist on transport issues, will be in Malta next week to discuss the proposed road in Ghadira with Minister Austin Gatt, Alternattiva Demokratika chairman, Arnold Cassola announced.

Prof. Cassola said that since it wasplanned that this road be financed by EU monies, it was only right to ensure that the EU and Maltese taxpayers' money was invested in a proper and sustainable way.

"AD supports the position taken by Din l-Art Helwa that government should make all available studies on the proposed road public,” he said.

Carmel Cacopardo, AD's spokesman on sustainable development said the Ghadira Nature reserve was a special area of conservation protected in terms of the Habitats’ Directive.

"The road as proposed by government will have a negative effect on the nature reserve through bringing both traffic noise and light pollution much closer to the said reserve. We are still not convinced that it will not damage the tourist investment at the Danish Village, as well as the Nature Reserve in Ghadira," Mr Cacopardo said.

Transport spokesman Ralph Cassar said it was good that consultations werebeing held with Birdlife and the Danish Village management, "but we expect a public consultation at the earliest possible. The Ghadira nature reserve is administered by Birdlife on behalf of the Maltese and Gozitan community and ultimately it is this community that has to be convinced and satisfied that this project is really needed and well planned."

AD, he said, joined the call made by NGOs for the Minister to publish any studies regarding beach erosion, if these existed.

Mr Cramer sits on the European Parliament's Transport Committee.