Structure Plan prohibits housing Parliament in new building - FAA

The environment NGO Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar has insisted that Parliament cannot be housed in a new building on Freedom square because the Structure Plan lays down that: ‘A new Government administration centre will be developed outside Valletta to house most government departments, while Parliament itself and the ministries will concentrate in the palaces and auberges of Valletta.'

On February 17, the MEPA Board decided on the changes to the Valletta Local Plan necessitated by the government's plans for City Gate, the Opera House and the bus terminus proposals.

The FAA said, however, that the Structure Plan is legally binding since it was ratified by Parliament and was drawn up precisely to protect the Maltese Islands, including Valletta.

"There is only one way to interpret this statement - it is unequivocal. Parliament and Ministries must make use of the palaces and auberges in Valletta"

The NGO said that as reported in the media, the Mepa Case Officer had argued that "this is a restricted interpretation. What the policy actually states is that the ministries and Parliament must stay in the palaces and the auberges, not that every ministry must stay in an auberge. Even if Parliament is built at City Gate, policy COM 1 would still be valid. It is furthermore the applicant which must consider alternatives sites."

The FAA insisted, however, that Malta has only one Parliament and it is that Parliament which the Structure Plan directs to make use of existing palaces and auberges in Valletta.

"There is no other interpretation of the law in this regard. FAA therefore questions the MEPA Case Officer's attempt to obfuscate this issue and challenges the decision taken by the MEPA Board.

It also insisted that the issue of access to Valletta once the road over City Gate is demolished has not been addressed. It said that a Traffic Impact Statement (TIS) should have been carried out and presented to the MEPA Board before a decision of such magnitude could be taken and certainly before works or demolition commence.

"The MEPA Board has the legal responsibility to protect Malta's heritage and environment based on the legality of the application irrespective of who made the application or the presence of objectors at the hearing," the NGO said.