The supermarket that will be built on virgin land outside Xewkija goes against too many principles to be acceptable.
Moving shopping out of towns robs urban streets of the vibrancy they once had, with people out shopping on foot at corner stores or street vendors. It continues to spell the end of village and town cores with erosion of the social function of streets that become mere conduits for motor transport to distant supermarkets. It also increases pollution by obliging people to use their cars.
Such developments particularly hit the elderly by putting daily shopping out of their reach.
The EU had already dedicated 2012 as the European Year for Active Aging and Solidarity between Generations with the aim of promoting innovative solutions to the health and socio-economic challenges of an ageing population by providing an urban environment that encourages a healthy lifestyle.
The World Health Organisation’s recommendation is now for a ‘compact city’ in which shopping, medical services, libraries and leisure spaces, as well as other facilities, are all within walking distance.
Population studies of dementia have identified many factors that determine the probability and timing of onset of disease and it is now generally accepted that simply remaining physically and mentally active into old age can delay the onset or even reduce the likelihood of developing the three Ds: dementia, depression and diabetes.
The foregoing is therefore of huge relevance when considering the question of the anticipated ‘epidemic’ of dementia as populations age. Health policies now demand preventive measures in order to mitigate the immense future health costs of age and, especially, the growing problem of dementia.
Acting on these can significantly reduce the incidence of dementia or, at least, delay its onset. This is where the WHO concept of ‘urban age friendliness’ comes in. In spite of Mepa’s reassurances, large supermarkets will inevitably result in the closure of small neighbourhood grocers (as the one above), butchers, greengrocers, corner mini-markets, etc. and continue to destroy a way of life fundamental to urban society.
Distant supermarkets deprive the less privileged and, especially, the old (who often don’t drive). It robs them of their independence by putting impossible distance (except by car) between where they live and where they shop, forcing them to rely on family and friends to do their shopping. It increases their isolation by depriving them of their local grocer, which served as a social focus that helps make life friendlier. Another unhealthy consequence is that younger people (who are tomorrow’s old people) become unhealthily reliant on cars to go shopping and, therefore, walk less.
As long as Malta keeps moving away from the recommended WHO concept of a healthy, age-friendly urban environment in which shopping, medical services and leisure facilities are within walking (or cycling) distance, everybody, especially the aged, will be not be enabled to age healthily through remaining physically active and self-reliant as long as possible and remain engaged in civic life.