Environment NGO Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar this afternoon hit out at the government for excluding development on hospital sites from Mepa permit and impact assessments, saying ministers have  opened the gates for more environmental abuse.

"It is incredible that our authorities do not realise that such assessments are not unnecessary bureaucracy to be evaded but are aimed at ensuring that the best possible project is developed, while avoiding costly mistakes," FAA said.

"In rushing through this legislation during the Santa Maria lull, the authorities have also contravened the EU legal obligation to carry out public consultation. This “Government that listens” has once again shown that not only is it not interested in listening to its own people, it also ignores its own laws," FAA said.

It noted that when, some months ago, it spoke out against the AFM structure at Haywharf, an eyesore ruining the vista of the Floriana bastions, the authorities said this was permitted because AFM structures were exempted from having to undergo an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA).

Had this study been carried out, it would have identified the other sites for this development and this damaging monstrosity would have been avoided.

The waiving of the development rules for the hospital sites meant that this mistake was now being repeated.