Parish priests in Sliema and Balluta have criticised the 'frenzy' of construction projects in the area which, they said, is degrading the region.

They issued a joint statement today, days after the Planning Authority controversially granted a permit for a 38-storey tower in Tigne'.

The parish priests said they shared the concerns and complaints of parishioners about the alarming number of construction projects in the area. Such projects, they said, did not deserve to be called development because they did not improve the quality of life.

People's complaints had fallen on deaf ears and permits were issued anyway, without a holistic plan for the area, the parish priests said.

They said the construction frenzy has also led to a range of problems including dangerous pavements which made accessibility difficult for the elderly and the infirm, heavy demand on utility services and parking, psychological stress, damage to properties, noise, dust, a lack of open spaces and an increase in the number of vacant dwellings.

One was led to wonder whether planning experts ever considered these concerns before issuing permits, they said.

The also asked when local councils would be able to decide that a locality would have reached its building limits. When would the granting of building permits be based on quality of life considerations rather than simple economic gain? 

The parish priests called for reflection and an evaluation of priorities based on the protection of the common good without other interests being allowed to dictate and undermine the people's quality of life.

They also called for social justice that protected ordinary people.