Mepa refuses to lower Balluta valley protection

A request by five developers to de-schedule part of Balluta valley was unanimously turned down by the planning authority yesterday.

The planning board noted that the request to de-schedule was only fuelled by the companies’ “intent to develop” the land.

The request was to lower the protection status to Level 3 in the area bordering the valley floor. The valley, which cuts through Sliema and St Julians, was scheduled as Area of Ecological Importance last November.

With a footprint of more than 46,000 square metres, the valley has been given different levels of protection and includes a buffer zone to protect its overall integrity.

Apart from carob and olive trees, the valley bed also supports bay laurels and rosemary and pyramidal orchids grow on the upper valley side.

In a separate application, the board approved an outline development permit for a trailer park in Luqa including offices, storage areas, open yard maintenance area and landscaping.