Magħtab families seek to halt building of two farms

Four families residing in Magħtab yesterday filed two judicial protests against the developers of a cow farm and a pig farm expected to be built near their homes.

John and Geraldine Portelli, Marco and Alexandra Borg, Paul and Nicola Busuttil and Peter and Veronica Diacono said the farms would either be built right against their properties or within 100 metres from their homes, which have stood there long before any industrial animal farm was built in the area.

They said their worries grew following the recent swine flu outbreak and bovine tuberculosis in southwest England. The protest was filed against the Director of Animal Protection, Promotion and Services, the Director of Lands, the Director of Environmental Health and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

The four families said the hamlet of Magħtab was considered an "inhabited area" by the planning local plans and that the granting of permits to the two farms would put the lives of the residents in danger and deprive them from the enjoyment of their homes.

They called on the authorities not to issue any permits for the operation of the farms, holding them responsible for any damages they might suffer as a result of the presence and operations of the said farms.