An objection letter to the installation of a gas tank being installed near the Citadel in Victoria, Gozo has been submitted by over 30 objectors, this newsroom has learnt.

The Planning Commission will soon meet regarding the installation of a bulky LPG gas tank to fuel “eternal flames” on the victims of war memorial in Victoria.

The installation has been recommended for approval. Residents are worried about the potential danger such a tank, close to their homes, could pose.

According to the proposal, the buried LPG tank will have a capacity of 3000ltrs. The proposed tank would be located just beneath the ravelin and adjacent to the wall of the small parking area in front of the obelisk located at Castle Hill.

The pipe work route shall be passed through Triq it-Telgha tal-Belt, cross Triq Sir Adrian Dingli and below the surface of Independence Square.

“The main reasons for the objections revolve around the question of security and safety… given that the proposed site is actually adjacent to private properties and would mean that the security of the particular individuals is being put into discussion”.

The objectors also state that a number of documents deemed to form an integral part of the consultation process were not available to them, “and therefore they were put into a disadvantage when submitting their submissions”.

They argue that a minimum distance between the gas tank and buildings or the boundary line should be 3m without a gas dispersion wall, and 1.5m with one, however “it can be noted that the distance from the boundary line or building is less than 1.5m.

“Thus the proposal is in default of the minimum safety requirements and runs counter to the safety and security of the residents of the area”.

“Both the Malta resources Authority and the Regulator for energy and water services consultations refer to the completeness and due commissioning of the proposal by a competent person, which will eventually be addressed by the relative authorities. It should be noted that in this case we have a situation where the cart is pulling the horse.

“All the pipelines, ducts and connectivity works have already been made without such works being at least approved by the Planning Authority. This situation is tantamount to an illegal development in view of planning policies and besides it does lack the relative inspections and safeguards otherwise necessary in works of such nature”.

The argue that there is no way for the ducts and pipelines already installed by the developer to be inspected, thus undermining the safety and security requirements necessary for the approval of the installation of the LPG tank”.

The objectors mentioned a report that was issued addendum to the Risk Assessment Report, by Engineer Fabio Stivala. “The report requires that there should be a 6m distance from any vehicle. Taking into consideration that the total site is just over 9m, including the space of the proposed LPG tank and the area to be occupied by the gas tank compound, the clear distance envisaged by the report will not be respected”.

The site in question is also a fireworks drop-zone, they argue, “given the proximity to Gelmus Hill, which is just on the other side of the Citadel, where fireworks are set off mainly during two major feasts held at Rabat”.

They also say that the proposed application did not take into consideration the thousands of people who attend such celebrations, and that the risk assessment did not cater for a situation where the location is a fireworks drop zone.