The developers behind a proposed old people’s home in a disused quarry in the protected Wied Ghomor have filed an appeal with the Planning Authority after the application was rejected in May.

The Swieqi council has said it will again be opposing the project.

Plans for the 133-room old people’s home, which would rise above the quarry by two storeys, were met with strong disapproval from a number of NGOs, namely Din l-Art Helwa, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Front Harsien ODZ, as well as residents and the Swieqi and San Gwann local councils. The Nationalist Party had also opposed the application.

Swieqi Mayor Noel Muscat told The Malta Independent that the local council was disappointed that the issue had resurfaced. Its initial position has not changed and it will be attending the appeal hearing tomorrow to voice its concerns once again.

The council believes that overturning of the PA’s decision would likely lead to a ripple effect, encouraging yet more development applications.

The valley, joining Swieqi and San Gwann, is considered as the ‘last green lung’ of the locality, after a construction boom in recent years has ensured that green open spaces are sparse in the area.

‘PA should have a local council representative’

Moreover, the council is looking to propose that an official representative for local councils should be reinstated within the PA, so that they can be alerted on developments due to take place within their locality in order to be able to react proactively. Mr Muscat told this newspaper that the council had reached an agreement over this with the PA, but it still hasn’t actually come into effect, leaving councils in the dark on issues of such pressing importance.

“Local councils should be equipped with the resources to tackle these situations, but this is a far cry from the reality, where lack of funding means that all work carried out is voluntary,” he said.

“Part of the application fees for development should go to local councils,” Mr Muscat said, acknowledging that Swieqi is currently “under siege” from the plethora of development applications being put forward – six a week on average.

Speaking of tomorrow’s PA meeting where the appeal will be heard, Mr Muscat said: “we will be more aggressive in protecting the interests of our residents and ensuring that no more public space is encroached upon”