The Planning Authority said an archaeological site investigation in Kalkara revealed that no cart ruts existed.
The PA was making reference to a statement issued by Moviment Graffitti whereby they accuse the Planning Commission, during an online public hearing, of not giving one of its representatives the necessary time to make her intervention about the case [PA/03758/19] which was being discussed by the Commission.
The authority categorically denies that the microphone of the representative of Moviment Graffitti was turned off while she was making her representation. The authority cofnrimed that the representative was given all the time she needed to make her points about the case. The microphones were turned off when the Planning Commission had heard all the representations and the discussion was exhausted, following which the Chairperson decided to proceed for a vote.
The authority said the Commission took full consideration of the concerns raised by a number of objectors to this case. In fact at the first hearing which took place last January, when a number of objectors had raised concerns that the site carried archaeological value due to the presence of cart ruts, the Commission had suspended the application and order that an archaeological site investigation is to be carried and approved by the Superintendent for Cultural Heritage (SCH).
Following the completion of the archaeological evaluation report, the SCH, which is the competent Authority and has the expertise to evaluate and determine archaeological sites and remains gave its no objection for the application to be given the green light. Through this archaeological report it was confirmed that none of the alleged curt-ruts had been identified.
At yesterday’s hearing, the Planning Commission based its decision to grant planning permission for the construction of 4 maisonettes and 14 apartments on a site in the development zone of Kalkara on the premise that the project was in conformity with planning policies and that no archaeological remain were found on site.