The Qala Local Council announced what they described as another win for the locality after another application to sanction ODZ development was turned down by the Planning Commission.

The Local Council had objected to an application to sanction existing excavation; to demolish existing garages and to construct a host of warehouses.

The developer requested the excavation of a yard and the construction of 29 underground garages for trucks and a plant. Street level garages; 6 apartments and 3 penthouses were also applied for.

The Qala Local Council was represented by Mayor Paul Buttigieg who emphasized that such an intensification of use would also harm the residential area close by.

The Commission added that the proposed industrial development is considered to have a detrimental impact on the nearby residential area in terms of additional traffic generation, noise, fumes, and unusual operating hours.

Thus, it is considered to constitute a bad neighbourly development and not in in conformity with planning policies.

"This is another win for Qala" said the mayor "we do not intend to give up in our quest to see that the character of this village is protected"