The Environment Resource Authority should appeal the recent controversial decisions to sanction high-rise buildings in Mrieħel in Sliema, Partit Demokratiku said this afternoon. 

In the name of the government, Minister Edward Zammit Lewis had told the House Business Committee that a masterplan should be drafted and put out for consultation before such buildings are constructed, the PD said in a statement. 

"Since this holistic national masterplan does not exist, how can the ERA guarantee that the environment and sustainability will be safeguarded?"

ERA chairman Prof. Axiak, who sits on the Planning Authority board, was roundly criticised by civil society organisations for having missed the controversial PA hearings last week due to illness.

The party, spearheaded by former Labour MP Marlene Farrugia said the report drawn up by Prof. Axiak should be released in full.

"The public deserves to be given the necessary clarifications and that the ERA fulfils the role it was set up to do."

Yesterday, Prof. Axiak said he is "not yet ready" to share his thoughts on the planned skyscrapers in Mrieħel and Sliema, given that the ERA has yet to decide whether to appeal the Planning Authority's decision to green light the developments.