Alternattiva Demokratika and a group of people affected by the rationalisation of the development zones yesterday filed an application for a warrant of prohibitory injunction against the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

The party and 65 people filed the application calling on the First Hall of the Civil Court to prohibit the issue of development permits in zones which have been recently included in the development zones.

In the application, the party and the people said that the rationalisation process had not been carried out in accordance with a European Council Directive issued in June 2001, commonly known as the SEA Directive. According to law, a Strategic Environmental Assessment had to be carried out and that this had to include a scientific and detailed report about the impact of the proposed changes.

The party also expressed its plans to file another application requesting a judicial declaration of the nullity of the rationalisation process.