Irate residents living close to the Għargħur fireworks factory are piling pressure on local councils in the area to make a formal appeal on the decision to double its size.
The development permit to expand the facility was issued by the Planning Authority a day before the last election.
The matter was discussed by the Għargħur local council on Monday when concerned residents aired their objections. They felt the council should have defended their interests better and not kept the issue “under the radar” and pointed out that the redoubling of the factory size would increase safety hazards and devalue their properties.
“We are very concerned over the issue, especially because the Għargħur local council did not inform us of what was going on. We got to know about the permit only through the Times of Malta and this is not on. The local council is there to represent all the interests of the residents and not just those who are fireworks enthusiasts,” an angry resident told this newspaper after the meeting.
We will not let this go and will insist that an appeal is launched
“Judging by the councillors’ attitude it is obvious there is no appetite to launch a formal appeal as it seems the interest of the fireworks enthusiasts prevail. However, we will not let this go and will insist that an appeal is launched,” another resident said.
A petition on the issue is also expected to be launched shortly. An appeal must be filed within a month.
The Swieqi Local council and the Madliena hamlet committee are also being lobbied to appeal.
Speaking to this newspaper last week, Għargħur mayor Ġiljan Aquilina defended the council’s stand, arguing that the factory had been there for many years and the extension would make it safer.
The original application for the extension of the fireworks factory was made in 2013 and was recommended for refusal as it went against the policy in force at the time. However, a new policy was drafted in 2014.
Subsequently, the Għargħur fireworks factory developers were asked to make changes to their plans and the application was then recommended for approval by the Planning Authority’s directorate on May 19, during the run-up to the June 3 election. The permit was issued on June 2.
The legal counsel of St Bartholomew’s Pyrotechnic Society was former planning parliamentary secretary Michael Falzon, under whose watch the new fireworks factory policy was drafted and then launched.
Dr Falzon successfully contested the last election on the district which includes Għargħur. He was also elected from the 10th district and was made Minister for Family and Social Solidarity.