The Malta Environment and Planning Authority has challenged claims made by the St Julian's Residents Association about major development projects in the area.
The residents' association had stated that nine major projects are being planned, and that they should be put on hold until studies are carried out.
The association also intends to hold a public protest on Saturday.
The Authority said that of the nine proposals, two applications had been suspended as they were not deemed acceptable. The proposed developments were for the relocation of an existing entertainment complex by demolition and rebuilding in Triq Wied Ghomor and Triq Mikiel Ang Borg and the building of three levels of commercial units and overlying residential units at Spinola Bay and Forrest Street.
Another application - for an apartment block at Triq St' Elia and Birkirkara Hill - was also not deemed acceptable as currently proposed.
Mepa said a further two proposals required changes to the Local Plan before being considered. One of these proposals was submitted by the St Julian's Local Council and is being discussed with their representatives It proposes the relocation of the council offices, a day care centre and an old people's home in Triq Angli Mikiel Borg.
In the second case, an application for a minor amendment to the local plan had been submitted and a number of comments were received by MEPA during the six-week public consultation period.
A traffic impact statement was also conducted in this latter case and the related application is awaiting the determination of the planning control application.
Mepa said another proposal was to embellish and pedestrianise Spinola square. This would also require a traffic impact statement. Furthermore there was another pending application which was awaiting validation.
Mepa said two of the proposals were to be considered by the Board - a proposal for the building of 21 apartments at Villa Frieres and a proposed extension to the Portomaso complex with 46 new units.
"The Authority is evaluating the situation in line with environmental and planning regulations, and will make its conclusions known as soon as possible," Mepa said.
Environmental rally on Saturday
An environmental rally is being held on Saturday by the St Julian’s Residents’ Association and Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar at Spinola Square in St Julian’s at 10 a.m.
The organisations will be calling on the authorities to improve their quality of life through more rigorous assessment of major projects, which could change the way Mepa handles such matters all over the islands.
"Due to over-commercialisation, St Julian’s residents face numerous problems day and night and cannot allow the situation to deteriorate any further.
"Along with Sliema and Swieqi, St Julian’s shares the brunt of unruly foreigners who have moved into the area along with rowdy youths and foreign students, yet there is practically no police presence on the streets and the police often turn a blind eye.
"As a result residents suffer sleepless nights and vandalism to their property.
"FAA and St Julian’s Residents state that they are not out to stop development but are requesting that projects are made to respect Mepa regulations and Maltese laws while ensuring a decent quality of life for residents."
The NGOs called on Mepa to conduct in-depth air and noise pollution, ecological, social impact and traffic studies to assess the requirements of the area.
In reply to Mepa’s statement the NGOs stated that the fact that some of the current applications were not yet deemed acceptable by Mepa did not mean they had been dropped.
Therefore, this would be the ideal opportunity to assist requirements of the area before granting permits for more major projects.
They said the Sliema/St Julian’s area has more than 4,500 empty apartments more apartments would only increase problems of air and noise pollution.
"The issuing of permits for commercial outlets with no attention to traffic management has increased the traffic chaos due to uncoordinated delivery of supplies to these outlets.
"Already elderly residents and parents of young children are prisoners in their own homes due to the increased traffic in Urban Conservation Area roads with no pavements which cannot cope with more traffic and cranes."
The associations welcomed Mepa’s steadfastness in refusing to reschedule Balluta valley. They called on the public to attend Saturday’s rally to insist that Mepa should observes not just the letter but the spirit of its planning regulations for the good of all Maltese residents in all cases.