Alternattiva Demokratika criticised the new development taking place just in front of St Benedict’s College at Safi/Kirkop. It recalled that one of Malta’s “notorious” construction magnates had applied for the construction of a mega supermarket on 8 July, 2006 (PA 00554/06).

After various considerations the Planning Directorate (DPA) of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority recommended a refusal of the application, but once again, the Development Control Commission went against the recommendations by the DPA (the technical and professional employees) and overturned the decision to approve the construction, arguing that it did not conflict with agricultural policy notwithstanding that the area consisted of hectares of arable land which was still tilled and ploughed not so long ago, had no impact on traffic and offered an essential service to the village.

Saviour Sammut, AD spokesperson for the South of Malta said: “The category of this development is ‘Outside Scheme’. If the Development Control Commission wants to be taken seriously it should have upheld the DPA recommendations and refused outright this development in a green area, which serves as a buffer zone/green belt between the villages of Safi and Kirkop.”

AD reiterated the urgent need of restructuring of Mepa. “It is no use designating areas ‘outside scheme’ when the DCC is able to overturn the technical and professional deliberations of Mepa’s own staff so easily,” AD said, urging the splitting of Mepa into two distinct authorities, one responsible for the environment and one to monitor and rigorously control development.

Another proposal of AD is to take Mepa away from direct ministerial and government control and make it respond to a Parliamentary Permanent Committee for the Environment and the Control of Development.