The Qormi Local Council strongly deplores the way in which the Planning Authority gave the go-ahead for agricultural land in Triq id-Deheb Fin which borders Triq is-Sajf, Triq Ta' Farżina and Triq il-Bonc to be developed, the councol said.

The council said that it condemns the way in which it was informed of the Board's meeting, through an email, dated 13 September, which email was received at the Council's office at 3.10pm, when the hearing was scheduled for 3pm, the same day.

“This shows that the Planning Authority did not even respect the basic right of a proper hearing. On the part of the Planning Authority this was an arbitrary, ultra vires (beyond the powers) , and anti-constitutional decision," the council said.

The Council is asking where is the respect it should be shown as a ‘Local Government’ and “whether there was a further purpose for the invitation to be sent on the same day, 10 minutes after the hearing started”.

It further questioned how come it is possible that the development of the building has become much more important than the well-being of Qormi citizens, “who are already suffocated by two industrial zones, three arterial roads, a fly-over building in the area that connects Qormi with the area industrial of Mrieħel, among others.”

In addition, it said that the planning process can be considered as one-sided, since the Local Council could not put forward its position against this development.

The principle of equality between the parties was not respected, because the Local Council, as one of the objectors, was informed late and therefore could not present its argumentation against the project, the council said.