Addressing residents in Wied Ghomor, Swieqi, objecting to the construction of 11 villas in a protected area, Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson Dr Harry Vassallo said that the present conflict was generated by the illegal extension of development zones in June last year.

"Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party is conducting judicial proceedings in the Maltese courts and has complained to the EU Commission on the grounds of a violation of the Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) Directive' Dr Vassallo said "We have also asked the courts to issue a warrant of prohibitory injunction in order to avoid hundreds, if not thousands, of court cases by residents illegally deprived their acquired rights but the courts have preferred otherwise," Dr Vassallo said.

"The site in question on the boundary of the Wied Ghomor protected site is referred to as outside development zone in the development application and marked as protected and part of the development zone on the MEPA website" Dr Vassallo said. "The site was not merely outside development zone but also given a specially protected status which appears to have been withdrawn in the extension of development zones last year," Dr Vassallo added.

"The result is a development application for the construction of villas in a protected area which altogether contradicts the government's defence of its illegal action last year in which it claimed to be righting wrongs and providing space for social housing for young couples," Dr Vassallo said.

"When the EU commission finally obliges the Maltese government to reverse its illegalities all the damage done will have to be made good and developers forced into millions of liri of reparation costs will then sue the government," Dr Vassallo added. “Instead of being obstinate and irresponsible causing problems to ordinary citizens and harm to the environment the government would do much better if it directed its energies into addressing the question of skyrocketing property prices and reforming the rent laws" Dr Vassallo said

“The country is covered with a huge surplus of vacant properties but instead of addressing the issue, the government remains intent on adding more to the surplus and keeping prices impossibly high at the same time. Ending the destruction of the countryside and ensuring that existing resources are properly used is simply common sense which the government refuses to understand,” Dr Vassallo said.

AD Swieqi Councillor Rene Rossignaud will be asking the Swieqi local council to voice its opinion on this particular case of development which is being proposed, despite the fact that procedures for the extension of the development zones was not done in accordance to EU law.