The proposed Town Square project in Sliema will increase air pollution and add thousands of cars to an already congested area, Alternattiva Demokratika yesterday warned.

The Town Square project in Qui-Si-Sana is planned in the middle of an area which is already plagued with heavy traffic flows, AD chairman Michael Briguglio told a news conference.

A revised environment impact study confirmed that, as being proposed, Town Square would increase air pollution and thousands of cars in an area already characterised by overdevelopment at Tigné Point and Fort Cambridge, he said.

The study projects an additional 4,430 vehicles in daily traffic in Qui-Si-Sana.

Besides, studies commissioned by the developers showed that the project would result in further shading of parts of the Qui-Si-Sana promenade, the sea and the rocky foreshore and have a major impact on the landscape, Mr Briguglio said.

The proposed Town Square tower on the site of the former Union Club in Sliema is expected to include two high-rise towers, one climbing to 23 storeys and another to 15 storeys.

“The silence of Sliema council on the Town Square proposal is striking. The council seems to be in a total stalemate and is conspicuous in its absence regarding environmental issues in the locality.”