Environmentalists have criticised the Prime Minister for going back on a pre-electoral commitment not to extend development boundaries.
During Times of Malta’s The Big Debate in February 2013, Joseph Muscat was asked whether he would commit to not extending the development boundaries. His reply was unequivocal: “Yes”.
It is a promise environmentalists have not forgotten. Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar, Alternattiva Demokratika and Din l-Art Ħelwa have urged the government not to break its promise.
Last month, Planning Parliamentary Secretary Michael Falzon revealed in an interview with Malta Today that the new local plans would “tweak” development boundaries again – going completely against the Prime Minister’s promise.
Dr Falzon justified adjusting the 2006 boundaries by accusing the former government of being “creative” in including certain areas of land and not others.
Read more in The Sunday Times of Malta.