Two planning applications that were set to be decided today – one regarding a fuel station in Maghtab and another for an elderly home on ODZ land in Birgu - were postponed.

On the controversial Maghtab fuel station application, a resident had asked the courts to stop this hearing from taking place.

Recently, the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal  (EPRT) sent this case, which has been in the media since the application was filed back in 2014, back to the Planning Authority Board, to the stage just prior to the vote approving the application.

The resident said that the PA announced the date for the sitting today on the 18th April while the period of appeal from the EPRT Board decision hadn’t even lapsed. The resident argued that the period for appeal should have been allowed to expire and then an announcement for a hearing be sent.

The resident argued that since the decision of the Appeals Board sent the application back to the PA Board at the point prior to the final decision being made, the situation seemed as though objectors would not have time to voice their opinions and the vagueness could have led to the board just calling a vote depending on the interpretation of the EPRT decision.

The Courts provisionally accepted the arguments and issued a warrant of prohibitory injunction preventing the PA Board from deciding the case today.

The second application, for an elderly home on land located outside the development zone in Birgu, was postponed as per a request by the applicant.

this proposed facility plans to consist of 98 beds spread over 49 rooms, over four levels above ground, together with a number of miscellaneous facilities, the case officer’s report read. The case officer is recommending that this project be refused.