Environment NGOs said today that while they welcomed the Environment Authority's appeal against the development permit for the Sliema tower, they would still press on with their own appeal. They will also press on with their appeal against the Mrieħel towers project.

Friends of the Earth (Malta), Flimkien ghal Ambjent Aħjar, Ramblers’ Association of Malta and Din l-Art Ħelwa said their joint appeal would serve to back up that of the ERA, as the massive high-rise project in Sliema approved by the Planning Authority would have an impact on health and landscapes all over Malta.

"In also lodging a joint appeal against Mrieħel Towers, the eNGOs want to highlight the serious deficiencies in both cases, in the light of the fact that the high-rise projects did not meet all the requirements of the FAR (high-rise) policy and lacked important studies. Furthermore, the Mrieħel site was added to the FAR policy without any public consultation."

The NGOs said the impacts of the two projects would be wide enough to affect the whole country, and not just the Sliema and Mrieħel. They therefore called for public support.