Last week’s decision by the Planning Authority to approve an application to determine the extent and intensity of development on the periphery of Marsaxlokk rang alarm bells as no one had any idea on what criteria was the decision based.

This was stated by Alternattiva Demokratika deputy chairman Carmel Cacopardo when commenting on the decision approving the development of a 17,530 square metre stretch of land at Tal-Marnisi alongside Triq il-Baħħara in Marsaxlokk.

Mr Cacopardo said that the Planning Authority’s decision was not final as this had to be approved by Parliamentary Secretary Deborah Schembri.

The decision, he said, was the result of the incorrect decision taken by Parliament in 2006 as a result of which around two million square metres of and on the periphery of towns and villages were given up for development.

Before taking the ultimate decision, Parliamentary Secretary Deborah Schembri should ensures that the social, economic and the environmental impacts of the development was adequately considered.

“It is imperative that we remember that the 2011 census had identified that out of 1,129 residential units in Marsaxlokk, 75.3% were occupied, 18.7% were vacant and 5.9% only occasionally in use. On its own this is more than sufficient reason to discourage this type of development,” Mr Cacopardo said.

AD invited the government and the Labour Party to explain why, notwithstanding the PL’s vote against such development in 2006, Malta was still being faced with such decisions.

It was time for Parliament’s 2006 decision to be revised, he said.