The developer of a proposed old people’s home in Wied Għomor has warned residents, most of whom vehemently oppose the project, that the proposal’s defeat would mean “enduring a quarry” for decades.
Developer Laurence Galea has filed an appeal in hopes of overturning the refusal to grant a permit for a 133-room elderly residence in a quarry in the valley, which is located outside development zones between San Ġwann and Swieqi. The first hearing will take place today.
The application was rejected unanimously by the PA board in May, despite having been recommended for approval.
“The quarry remains operational, so residents have two options: enduring a quarry for the next 10 or 20 years or an old people’s home with just four tumoli of buildings and the rest as open space,” Mr Galea told the Times of Malta yesterday.
The quarry remains operational, so residents have two options:enduring a quarry for the next 10 or 20years or an old people’s home with just four tumoli of buildings and the rest as open space
“The land is already taken up, so this proposal will actually improve the environment,” he added.
Mr Galea said that throughout 10 years of discussions with the planning authority, there had never been any opposition to the project. He also said he had met with Swieqi mayor Noel Muscat – before the PA decision in May – and claimed he had been in favour of the project.
Mr Muscat, who has been a vocal critic of the project, confirmed that a “cordial” meeting had taken place, but he said that he had “just listened” and not expressed a view on the proposal.
The surrounding towns of San Ġwann, Swieqi and St Julian’s, environmental groups, residents and the Nationalist Party are all opposed to the old people’s home.
In a joint statement yesterday, the local councils insisted on their right of representation in the appeal process and questioned the “haste on a matter that affects the residents of one of the most overdeveloped areas of Malta”.
“Wied Għomor is the only open and natural valley remaining in this area. The approval of such a project would cause a significant increase in traffic through these congested towns and trigger the urbanisation of the valley, which contravenes the policies of the SPED [Strategic Plan for the Environment and Development],” the councils said.
Front Ħarsien ODZ, one of several environmental groups opposed to the project due to the impact on the rural character of the valley, said that the project’s refusal “reflected the widespread consensus in civil society against development in one of the few green lungs in the area” and called for the confirmation of the PA decision.
The organisation also called on the government to intervene by stating that it will withhold any permission for development on public land in the area.
“During the PA board meeting in May, chairman Vince Cassar confirmed that Land Registry documentation showed that 3,000 square metres of the site is publicly owned,” the Front said
“The government is therefore duty bound to inform the developers that it is objecting to any development on its own land.”
The group reiterated its position that the only acceptable way to rehabilitate quarries is through their conversion to agricultural land, afforestation projects and parks.