Members of the public concerned about high-rise developments proposed for Mrieħel and Town Square, Sliema have been urged to make their voices heard and write to their local MPs. 

Planning hearings for four Mrieħel tower blocks and the Town Square mega high-rise development are scheduled to be held this Thursday.

Objectors may base their letter on the template provided here.

NGOs Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Din l-Art Helwa, Friends of the Earth (Malta) and Ramblers said they would be voicing the public’s concerns at the Planning Authority hearing. To book a place, one should call tel: 2290 2018.

The organisations said that building high-rise towers was not a case of “better build up than out” into the countryside, as those wanting a farmhouse or weekend getaway outside development zones would not buy a high-rise apartment instead.

“The proof of this is that in spite of all the tall buildings being proposed, the number of countryside applications is at a record high,” they said.

They added that tall buildings only provided some of the parking spaces required, deprived residents of light, air and solar rights, and would change Malta’s landscape forever, ruining heritage vistas like the view of Mdina which would impact Malta’s tourism appeal.

They pointed out that Mrieħel was included in the high-rise policy in an underhand manner, after a public consultation period had closed. This meant that high-rise development in Mrieħel did not reflect the people’s will and was possibly illegal, they said.