AD struck out against "new proposals of massive development" in the Wied Inċita quarries today.

AD representative Ralph Cassar said that the very fact that quarry operators want a new quarry and to fill the existing quarries with garages, warehouses and retail outlets confirms that the current quarries have been exhausted.

"What's more the illegalities at Wied Incita quarry have been going on unchecked since at least the 1990s. The terms and conditions of a 1967 emphyteusis deed with the government, which owns the land, have been completely ignored . The intentions of the current operators of the quarries are clear - turning this area into a built up zone. It is also one thing installing PV panels, but using government solar energy schemes as an excuse to turn the area into a built up industrial zone so close to the residential area is totally unacceptable."

AD Deputy Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo who submitted an objection to the proposed development to the Planning Authority on behalf of residents and the AD local councillor explained that the application ignores a whole list of enforcement orders on illegalities in the quarries completely, as if nothing had ever happened.

"Rather than just submit a request for an outline development permission with a development proposal , the applicant should first and foremost be requested to address the irregularities on site. Secondly the applicant should also be requested to submit a proposal for the full rehabilitation of the whole site including a proposal for cessation of quarrying and all the related activities. It is only subsequent to honouring the above that the applicant should consider whether and what type of development on the site is permissible."

Mr Cacopardo continued: "We insist that there is no planning need to provide space for small retail outlets just outside the development zone. The proposal for garages to be used by SMEs (for light industry) is objectionable in principle due to the close proximity of the proposed area to residential units, whose development was permitted by the Planning Authority (and its predecessors) considerable time ago. No provision has been made for the impacts of the traffic generated, including heavy traffic, as a result of the proposal on the residential community in the area. This has neither been considered or factored in. The proposal for installation of solar panels is a sweetener intended to camouflage an otherwise unacceptable proposal."

"The Attard Local Council is in court, also thanks to the work and pressure by AD's local councillor Ralph Cassar, insisting that authorities enforce the laws, permit conditions and regulations which they are duty bound to enforce... Authorities should do their duty and enforce applicable laws and regulations. They have closed both their eyes for over 23 years now."