The government cannot stop the process begun by a company to build a private school on public land in Pembroke, a government spokesman said yesterday.

The proposed project by CHS (Chiswick House School) Limited for Gabriele Henin Street has been met with protests since the Planning Authority’s notice went up on site in July. Residents have circulated two petitions – an online and a physical one – and collected more than 3,500 signatures in total so far.

In May, CHS informed the government it would submit an outline proposal for public land.

In accordance with standard procedure, the applicants have to go through application processes at the Lands Authority and the Planning Authority.

The final say will come through a parliamentary resolution, sources have told this newspaper.

However, the Nationalist Party yesterday urged the government to declare whether it planned to go ahead with the transfer of public land.

They have a right to apply and go through the applicable procedures

Asked whether the government can stop the process, a spokesman said: “The government cannot simply stop the process, because the applicants have a right to apply and go through the procedures which apply in such circumstances.”

The spokesman said that the independent institutions – the planning, land and environment authorities – would be taking decisions according to established laws and procedures.

The government does not interfere in such processes.

On Tuesday evening, Environment Minister José Herrera turned up at a protest organised by residents who oppose the development, stating his ministry supported the residents and was against building the school.

Asked whether this reflected the government’s position on the matter, a spokesman said Dr Herrera was part of the government and his attendance was in line with the government’s manifesto with regards to the environment.

“On the other hand, the Opposition – PN and PD – did not participate in Tuesday’s event, clearly showing it only pays lip service to environmental matters,” the government spokesman added.

In the meantime, CHS reiterated in a statement that the site for its proposed school was in a development zone and was recommended following a two-year consultation process.

School director Bernie Mizzi said: “We considered other options during this period, but since none was appropriate, we were directed by the authorities towards the government-owned plot in Pembroke…

“This land has been earmarked for development for many years – as can be seen in the Pembroke Development Brief.

“Had this not been the case, we would never have submitted an application.”

She added that CHS would be leasing the land from the government and it was not a gift.

An Education Ministry spokeswoman contacted by this newspaper said the environment should be given its due importance, while development should be done in a sustainable manner. [Education] Minister Evarist Bartolo’s view was in line with this, she said.

“It’s worth clarifying that this planning process has nothing to do with the Education Ministry, and the ministry and its entities are actually subject to, and obliged to abide by, the competent authority’s requests and decisions when applying and building its own State schools.”

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