Din l-Art Ħelwa is encouraged by Mepa’s decision to turn down the application for the Portomaso extension even though the close result indicates that planners are still in too much of a mixed mind when it comes to environmental protection. 

While the importance of this decision must not go unappreciated, the barely swung vote does not bode good for the future of our open spaces especially in the light of the recent draft Strategic Plan for Environment and Development which leaves an unhealthy open-ended framework for future building policies.  

Din l-Art Ħelwa praises Mepa chairman Austin Walker for having had the courage to utilise his casting vote and said it could not have been easy in this instance. Din l-Art Ħelwa had appealed to the Tumas Group to leave this space unbuilt asking that the terrain be rehabilitated  and allowed to regenerate naturally. In this way, the densely-populated area could  enjoy some respite from development.

■ Simone Mizzi

Din l-Art Ħelwa