Last week’s approval by the Planning Authority of the 38-storey Townsquare tower in Tigné, Sliema, was not particularly surprising. One only has to look at the way Malta has been ‘uglified’ over the years as the authority has bowed down, time and again, to crass development and political expediency. Yet, the latest decision was still something of a shock.
It represents a new low point for Malta’s urban landscape and the environment in which people live. It shows utter disregard, as never before, for the plight of residents in the area. It cements the perception that the PA is not truly independent and once again highlights the Labour government’s close ties to big business – and therefore its real priorities.
The project, in a densely populated zone of Sliema, was opposed by all the environmental and heritage NGOs, by the local council, all the other political parties, the town’s residents, the Civil Society Network, the Archbishop, parish priests and the Church’s Environment Commission, as well as a number of technical experts. Ignoring the outcry, the board approved Townsquare, albeit by a narrow majority.
While each high-rise project should be judged on its own merits, this one is flawed for several reasons, not least because it will go ahead in the absence of a national master plan for such projects. It will massively increase traffic to the already choked area and create intense pressure on the existing infrastructure. It will subject residents to a level of noise and dust pollution possibly never before experienced on the island, heavily degrading their quality of life.
Perhaps the most damning indictment comes from the memo submitted to the board by the chairman of the Environment and Resources Authority, Victor Axiaq, who described the environment impact assessment as a “sham”, as we report today.
Prof. Axiaq was absent due to illness when the vote was taken. He is not revealing how he would have voted had he been present. But it is not unreasonable to speculate that instead of the 7-6 majority, the vote might have been tied at 7-7 instead. Then it would have been down to the casting vote of the chairman, who, as we know, voted against on the day…
The fact that a representative of the ERA was not present during a hearing on such a major project, with massive environmental repercussions, sets a worrying precedent. Prof. Axiaq had long ago submitted a request to the Planning Authority for a proxy to be nominated to the board, but was not given an answer. It is absurd to have a voiceless environment authority on such an important vote, and if there are legal impediments they should be resolved urgently.
Prof. Axiaq had handed a memo outlining his thoughts on the project to a PA board member, Timothy Gambin, who chose not to read it out during the proceedings. This newspaper has given Mr Gambin the opportunity to explain his decision but he has unfortunately turned it down.
Prof. Axiaq’s damning judgment of the environment impact assessment gives the ERA good reason to appeal the PA’s decision, as it is entitled – even obliged – to do. It had originally signaled it was not going to do so. Let’s hope that the ERA, set up by the Labour government to strengthen the voice of the environment in planning decisions, will now reconsider. Its credibility is on the line.
If the process that has led to the Townsquare approval is a taste of the way the other 20 or so proposed high-rises are to be considered, to say nothing of the multitude of medium-rises that must be on the drawing board, then not only will Malta be made even uglier but it will become an unbearable place to live for so many of its residents. That’s a legacy no government should want to leave behind.