Honourable Representatives,

As a Member of the House of Representatives elected to represent us citizens of the 9th and 10th Districts, you will undoubtedly be aware of the very serious issues of over-development in the localities forming part of the District you represent. We, as residents, are very concerned about this situation. We feel that our quality of life has been significantly affected in a negative manner. Over-development has led to overcrowding and traffic congestion, and a significant deterioration in the urban design of our towns.

Our cityscapes are becoming even more aesthetically unpleasant and are losing the sense of balance and proportion that is a necessary part of any urban landscape. In addition, our areas have been transformed into constant building sites, which lead to unending noise and dust pollution. Respiratory conditions such as asthma and allergies are on the rise because of impoverished air quality due to increased traffic congestion and construction.

Although we realise that these issues are not only related to our neighbourhoods, it is a well-known fact that they are particularly concentrated in our area, which, over the last few years, has been subject to an onslaught of overdevelopment which has completely changed the fabric of the towns we live in.

We are particularly concerned about the construction project that cannot be termed anything but ‘monstrous’. We are referring to the proposed development by the DB group of a hotel and luxury apartments on the ITS site that is located on the border of St Julian’s with Pembroke. This massive development, which will have a 37-storey tower and 19-storey hotel, will have a very deleterious effect on our quality of life, firstly during the lengthy construction phase and, subsequently, during its operational cycles. We do not think it is necessary to repeat stats and figures which can be readily obtained from the developer’s own submitted documentation. A cursory glance at this data will immediately alert you to the massive negative impact this project is guaranteed to have on its surroundings.

The proposed tower is so disproportionately high that it will cast almost permanent shadows on the nearby apartment blocks, which house more than 1,300 residents. It will also dwarf St George’s Bay and severely undermine its aesthetic beauty to the detriment of locals and the tourism industry. It will be so high that it will be visible from most of the country. Furthermore, this development has to be considered alongside other developments in the area that are being decided on without a Masterplan, which is imperative before any further development in the area is considered. It must also be noted that data presented by the developer in the application documentation, is considering a proposed tunnel as already being in place and functional. This is clearly not the case and any potential development based on the existence of such a tunnel, can only be considered to take off, once such a tunnel is operational.

As residents, we feel that our voices are not being heard. Our rights to enjoy our property and to a good quality of life are being trampled on to favour a development of highly questionable benefit to the nation’s quality of life and tourist product alike. Over-development in this area is having a negative effect on our lives, blocking out the sun, increasing air and noise pollution, and causing severe traffic congestion. We also question whether there is any sense in building more hotels, which will generate further job demand which cannot be satisfied except by employing foreign labour. This, in turn, triggers a cascade of further pressures on our nation because of the consequent sudden increase in population.

This senseless, rapid over-development is having a direct impact on our physical and psychological health, our wellbeing, and our social fabric. One cannot just cram more people on a tiny island, much less so in an already overcrowded and congested area such as the North Harbour Area. We feel that what we are being compelled to face is no planned choice of ours – not only in as far as the upcoming DB project, but also with this general out-of-control over-development spree. It is not sustainable at all and not a desirable investment for the nation’s quality of life and that of future generations. Surely, the drastic impact on the large community established around the area over the past years needs to be given full attention.

Our sentiments are echoed by the over 4,000 objections submitted to the Planning Authority in response to the DB project planning application that made media headlines in recent weeks. This is a national record which just cannot be bulldozed over.

As our local political representatives, we ask you to take this plea seriously and champion our concerns and interests to those others who seek to make a one-time profit to the detriment of the nation, its citizens and their future generations. We sincerely cannot understand how greedy developers are allowed to promote and even sell their megalomaniacal plans to fatten their wallets. It is complete lack of respect for anyone around them, including respected Authorities which are supposed to exist to properly analyse, discuss and decide, with no strings attached, such massive developments, the massive crippling effect of which will be a yoke for generations to come.

We thank you for your time dedicated to reading this correspondence, as well as your consideration to our plea.

Yours sincerely,

Members of the Pembroke Residents Pressure Group

obo all citizens who presented their objections to this project