Building several high-rise projects in Sliema without the necessary studies and plans would likely lead to otherwise “avoidable negative results”, a coalition of NGOs warned yesterday.
Addressing a press conference, Ruben Borg, a senior lecturer at the University of Malta, said tall buildings were not necessarily a no-go, but several studies were needed to ensure they were built sensibly.
“We are not against development and we aren’t ruling out tall buildings but these should be done right. Let’s not go down a road where in a few years’ time, we’re kicking ourselves for not having done things properly,” Dr Borg said.
The NGOs are calling for several different impact assessments to be conducted, which would look into the cumulative effect a number of planned high-rise projects would have on the Sliema area. Among the issues are traffic impact, sewage and the long shadows cast over the neighbourhood.
Let’s not go down a road where in a few years’ time, we’re kicking ourselves for not having done things properly
Dr Borg said the advancements in engineering and planning nowadays provided solutions to many of these issues.
The call for a temporary suspension of tall building projects pending the introduction of a policy has been made by a number of stakeholders in recent weeks, however the government has insisted they will carry on.
The NGOs yesterday said they had written to both major political parties urging them to ensure a temporary cessation of the towers in the Sliema area, but they heard back from neither.
Meanwhile, both Alternattiva Demokratika and Partit Demokratiku have backed the collective.
Dr Borg said the NGOs had also written to Labour MP Franco Mercieca, who heads Parliament’s environment and planning committee, but he rejected their call for a debate between MPs, NGOs, experts and civil society representatives.
The group is now hoping for better luck as they reach out to newly appointed Environment Minister Jose Herrera.
The coalition of NGOs is composed of the Civil Society Network, Din l-Art Ħelwa, Flimkien Għall-Ambjent Aħjar, Friends of the Earth, the Ramblers Association, the Qui-si-Sana and Tigné Residents Association, Sustainable Built Environment Malta, Youths for the Environment, Moviment Graffitti, and the Chamber of Planners.