Around 180 people who live at The Gardens in St Julian’s have filed a judicial protest against the members of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority board over the development of Pender Place in the locality.

The residents complained that if the permit is granted, the value of their property will decrease substantially, apart from other effects this development will have. They called on the Mepa board to insist on the need of an Environmental Impact Assessment in order to consider this application.

They also insisted that this application should be refused unless all Mepa procedures are adhered to completely. The board decided to consider a proposal to excavate 300,000 cubic metres of rock to dig down some 20 metres.

In their protest, the residents referred to a judicial protest filed by Opposition MP and Mepa board member Joe Brincat against the Mepa chairman over an alleged breach of regulations in the consideration of developing Pender Place. In his protest, Dr Brincat said that some of the proposals made went against both Maltese and European Union law.

Dr Brincat said that any such project should be accompanied by an EIA that should at least give information on the effect that it would leave on the surrounding area as well as on residents.

Dr Brincat said that European Union law also binds Malta to stick to such practices. He said that the issue was not one of little importance, but of substantial relevance. He therefore requested the Mepa board to revoke the decision taken and to adhere to the practice of waiting for the EIA before considering any form of development.

The residents said that if the allegations made by Dr Brincat were correct, then their right to oppose the proposed development would be prejudiced. Malta has never seen such extensive excavation, they said.

They therefore called on the Mepa board to ensure that an EIA is commissioned and submitted before it continues with the consideration of the said project.

Professor Ian Refalo signed the writ.