Environment Minister Jose Herrera told The Malta Independent yesterday that nothing is excluded and nothing is cast in stone when asked why a cap on the number of fuel stations was not included in the proposals to reform the controversial fuel stations policy.
Recently, details about the proposed changes to the controversial 2015 policy were announced during a meeting between Environment Minister Jose Herrera and the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA). The old policy saw activists up in arms, with some ever attempting to stop a PA hearing on an application with megaphones, banners, and song. The Planning Authority has since then seemed to have increased security measures during the Thursday Board meeting sessions.
Minister Herrera was asked by The Malta Independent, why no cap in terms of the overall number of fuel stations is included in the policy revision.
“Nothing is excluded and nothing cast in stone, but one must consider whether capping fuel stations, in the sense that you mean, would go against the concept of competitiveness. What we are proposing however, is a sort of capping. While before you could have a station every 500 square metres, we have now tripled that distance. The fact that we are stating that in a certain area you can only have one fuel station is a form of capping in itself.”
Asked whether he personally believes the reform should go beyond that, he spoke of the need to do everything in a sustainable manner and in a sustainable fashion, by promoting the environment within the needs of the country. “Whether one likes it or not foreign direct investment in Malta has grown. This has caused a ripple effect, having a huge amount of foreigners living in Malta and our traffic has increased. The needs of the extra traffic have to be addressed.
“On the other hand, it is no longer acceptable to have fuel stations gobbling up ODZ territory, and that is the most important aspect of the policy, that there will be no future fuel stations built on ODZ. For me, ODZ land is sacred, and I will endeavour over the coming months and years to protect this part of Malta as much as possible.”
Asked whether this means he is still open to changes, he said: “We have our policy and there seems to be convergence and it is well accepted. There are a lot of restrictions, including to ancillary facilities one can carry out at a pumping station. You cannot build on ODZ areas even if in front of factory areas as was before, and a height limitation is included. This is going before the Executive Council (of the Planning Authority). Obviously ERA whose priority is the environment will push for more ideas. There will be a consultation process, so nothing is cast in stone. I take heed of what people say, such as on the Bulebel issue, going there personally and I drove government’s decision not to build it up. So I am open to further advice and recommendations.”
He was asked whether he thinks reducing the size of relocated stations to a maximum of 2,000 square metres is enough given that most stations in towns are just a few pumps near a pavement.
“On this aspect, I relied on experts. I met them regularly and it is no secret that I drove this reform. I told them about my concerns that stations were consuming too much land, and the advice given regarding the middle ground was to reduce it to 2,000 square metres. We don’t live in the perfect world. Today it appears that on the outskirts of towns, or in non-urban areas, if the stations are not at least 2,000 square metres they will not be economically viable. Just having a pump for petrol with no ancillary activity then it won’t be viable so we had to compromise. 3,000 square metres was too much and 2,000 square metres seemed reasonable. In addition the landscaping would need to be done within the 2,000 square metres … we cannot eradicate the adverse effect to the environment as any type of building or infrastructure will effect it, but what I can do as the minister responsible is try to mitigate as much as possible.”