Updated at 4.30pm
A controversial fuel stations policy will finally be released for public consultation next month, Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg said on Friday as he was confronted by a group of demonstrators who marched to his ministry.
Dr Borg, who was flanked by Environment Minister Jose Herrera and Planning Parliamentary Secretary Chris Agius, told the demonstrators that they had not agreed with some points of the original policy which allows fuel stations in urban areas to be relocated outside the development zone and take up some 3,000 meters of green land.
The protestors, led by Graffitti spokesman Andre Callus, lambasted the three politicians for having dragged their feet when it came to amending the policy.
Amid cries of “bureaucracy when it suits you”, the demonstrators said Maltese society was judging them, as quality of life continued to dip because of excessive development.
Retorting, Dr Borg said when people looked back at the history books, they would know that he and his two Cabinet colleagues had been the ones to change the contentious policy.
Anger at minister
The group of activists, led by Graffitti, on Thursday set up tents outside the Planning Authority's main office in Floriana and pledged to camp there in protest until at least Sunday, in a symbolic siege against planners' reluctance to stop overdevelopment.
The demonstrators are angry that a promised fuel stations policy revision, which has been on the cards for more than a year, has not yet been published.
In the letter to Dr Borg, they lament about the way the island had become besieged with senseless development, in particular the development of massive fuel stations.
This controversial policy, the protestors said, has not been amended because of big interests that pressured planners and policy makers.
“Our principle point is that in such an over-developed country, the mushrooming of fuel pumping stations is threatening our future,” Grafffitti spokesman Andre Callus said.
He later added that future generations would judge politicians that failed to act today.
Read: Support for Graffitti action against 'utter incompetence'
If a ounce of decency remained, the revision of the policy would be published immediately, he said.
The group of about 25 have set up tents outside the PA driveway, holding banners, chanting and banging drums.
The authority barred the gate and PA security officials have been keeping an eye on activists from the other side of the gate.
Speaking to the activists, Dr Borg said that the revised policy will be out for public consultation by end of April.
Protestors said the revision had taken too long.