A development planning application for another supermarket, this time on the outskirts of Żurrieq, has been submitted to the Planning Authority for its consideration (application PA7684/24). The residents are up in arms, objecting both on an individual level as well as through the Żurrieq Residents Association.

The residents are concerned that the proposed development will have an impact on their quality of life as a result of the generation of traffic to and from what is so far a relatively quiet residential area. The proposed development will be taking up more agricultural land which lies just outside the development zone (ODZ) at Żurrieq.

Contrary to the perception that the residents' response to the proposed development is another NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) reaction, it is to be underlined that the matter is of substantially greater significance.

In these columns, around one year ago, in an article entitled An alternative to Supermarkets? (TMIS 10 December 2023) I had argued that while supermarkets most obviously have their benefits, it is about time that we also consider their negative impacts on our communities, both urban and rural.

The Planning Authority has abdicated its responsibilities in favour of market forces. It has failed to act, and, as a result, the market, by default is being allowed to drive urban change.

Supermarkets attract custom through a broad selection of products, competitive pricing and convenient shopping hours. Slowly they have squeezed out a substantial number of small and medium sized business out of the market. The net result is that parts of our urban areas have substantially fewer commercial outlets. As a result, it is not always easy to have access to basic needs close to one's home. Many times, it is necessary to use a car to have such an access. Gone are the days when basic needs could be satisfied close to home.

Consequently, as a result of the development of supermarkets, we are lumped with two basic consequences: more traffic, and an accelerated urban decay. Small and medium sized commercial outlets in our localities are an essential element of the social infrastructure of our urban and rural communities. Their loss is quite problematic for our communities, both urban and rural. Local Councils have been rendered helpless. They cannot arrest this urban decay triggered or accelerated by supermarkets as they are dependent on a Planning Authority which has abdicated its responsibilities.

It will, however, take much more than land use planning to save small and medium sized commercial units within our localities. Local SMEs require help to better organise themselves in order to overcome the onslaught of the market. The co-operative model springs to mind as a possible solution in bringing locally based SMEs together, helping them to pool their resources in order to continue being of service to our local communities.

The Planning Authority must rediscover its role, as an authority intended for land use planning. Land use planning requires foresight to identify the real issues that need to be addressed and muscle in order to ensure implementation of what is right in the interest of our residential communities.

We need to have updated local plans which redefine the priorities of local land use planning in terms of today's requirements. The protection of our local communities and addressing climate change through land use planning should be the new priorities for a Planning Authority worthy of its name.

A reasonable first step has been made when the Gozo Regional Development Strategy was published for public consultation last year. The public consultation document had then emphasised that the Gozitan identity of "an island of villages" was under threat. Ironically this document was not published by the Planning Authority! That same basic argument, however, applies to all our communities spread all over the islands. Haphazard land use planning and the associated development is threatening the identity of our communities and accelerating urban decay in both Gozo and Malta.

The development planning applications for more supermarkets are to be viewed in this context, much wider than the local impacts in the vicinity of the sites under consideration.

There are possible solutions which identify alternatives to the construction of more supermarkets. These need to be explored in the interest of our local communities.  In the tug of war between the market forces and our local communities we must ensure that our urban and rural communities remain alive and kicking.

An architect and civil engineer, the author is a former Chairperson of ADPD-The Green Party in Malta.  [email protected] ,   http://carmelcacopardo.wordpress.com