NGOs want timeframe for promised planning appeals legislation
Several NGOs have asked for a meeting with Prime Minister Robert Abela and Minister for Planning Clint Camilleri, Din L-Art Helwa has said, following promised legislation."We have been promised legislation to amend the ability to construct while the
Several NGOs have asked for a meeting with Prime Minister Robert Abela and Minister for Planning Clint Camilleri, Din L-Art Helwa has said, following promised legislation.
"We have been promised legislation to amend the ability to construct while the appeal process is underway. But we want a timeframe, not just a promise that it will be done," the NGO said.
The DLH statement read that "the development planning legislation needs to be amended immediately and made more equitable. While a recent press release
issued by the Minister for Planning Clint Camilleri promised some changes to the legislation, there was no commitment to any timeframes. Furthermore, there are no guarantees that the new legislation will solve the problems our country and its citizens are facing."
"The recent decision taken by the Planning Authority to overturn a Court of Appeal judgement, which was presided over by the Honourable Chief Justice Mark Chetcuti, was flagrantly abusive. The Planning Authority approved, through a summary procedure application, two penthouses that were deemed to be illegal and not conforming to planning policies. The fact that the Planning Authority feels it can disregard the Court of Appeal's declaration and final judgment and subsequently sanction this property is not acceptable and accentuates the urgency with which the planning laws need to be amended. The rule of law should apply across the entire legislation including that of planning and environmental issues."
"In view of this serious situation, we have requested an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister and the Minister for Planning to discuss proposed amendments to the development planning laws and a committed timeframe for their implementation."
The NGOs signing the statement are: BirdLife Malta, Din l-Art Ħelwa, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Friends of the Earth Malta, Għawdix, Moviment Graffitti, Nature Trust Malta, Ramblers Association Malta, The Archaeological Society Malta, Wirt Għawdex, Azzjoni Tuna Artna Lura, Għaqda Residenti tal-Qrendi, Għaqda Storja u Kultura Birżebbuġa, Marsaskala Residents Network, Marsaxlokk Heritage, Nadur Nadif, Residenti Beltin, Sliema Residents Association and Wirt iż-Żejtun
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