A successful crowdfunding effort has enabled Pembroke and Swieqi residents, two organisations, and two local councils to appeal the outrageous Planning Authority (PA) decision to greenlight a 13-storey extension to the monstrous DB development.

DB has already profited enormously from public land, suffocated residents, damaged the natural environment, and buried historical buildings. Its project for a hotel and two towers next to thousands of Pembroke residents – living literally across the road – was approved by compromised authorities who ignored tens of thousands of public objections and the strong opposition of three local councils.

Now, before the originally approved 17- and 18-storey towers are even built, they are set to rise to 23 and 25 floors respectively.

The appeal filed with the Planning Tribunal (EPRT) argues that the approved increase in height constitutes an excessive and unjustified intensification of development. This increase will result in severe and permanent overshadowing, plunging third-party residents into constant darkness and significantly undermining their quality of life.

Furthermore, the tunnel that was presented as a key mitigation measure during the original approval – intended to divert traffic, emissions, and noise underground – never materialised, confirming that this so-called mitigation measure was a cynical ruse deliberately advanced to obtain planning approval under false pretences.

The Planning Authority (PA) and the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) continue to disregard the legitimate concerns of residents, imposing large-scale developments that overwhelm local infrastructure and irreversibly damage the character and liveability of the community.

It is a shame that residents, organisations, and local councils are forced to expend time, energy, and resources challenging shameful decisions taken by public authorities that run counter to the public good. Nevertheless, the fight to protect our environment and quality of life will continue.

Appellants
Moviment Graffitti
Din l-Art Ħelwa
St. Julian’s Local Council
Swieqi Local Council
Pembroke and Swieqi residents

******

Crowdfunding b’suċċess iwassal għal appel kontra l-estensjoni ta’ 13-il sular tad-DB

Kampanja ta’ crowdfunding b’suċċess wasslet biex residenti ta’ Pembroke u Swieqi, żewġ organizzazzjonijiet, u żewġ kunsilli lokali jappellaw id-deċiżjoni skandaluża tal-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar (PA) li tapprova estensjoni ta’ 13-il sular għall-iżvilupp mostruż tad-DB.

Id-DB diġà għamel profitti kbar mill-art pubblika, ħonoq lir-residenti, għamel ħsara lill-ambjent naturali, u difen bini storiku. Il-proġett tiegħu għal lukanda u żewġ torrijiet qalb eluf ta’ residenti ta’ Pembroke – li jgħixu litteralment faċċata tat-triq – ġie approvat minn awtoritajiet kompromessi li injoraw għexieren ta’ eluf ta’ oġġezzjonijiet pubbliċi u l-oppożizzjoni qawwija ta’ tliet kunsilli lokali.

Issa, qabel jinbnew it-torrijiet ta’ 17 u 18-il sular li ġew approvati oriġinarjament, it-torrijiet se jitilgħu għal 23 u 25 sular rispettivament.

L-appell ippreżentat lit-Tribunal tal-Ippjanar (EPRT) jargumenta li ż-żieda approvata għall-għoli tikkostitwixxi intensifikazzjoni eċċessiva u mhux ġustifikata tal-iżvilupp. Din iż-żieda se tirriżulta f’dell qawwi u permanenti, li jgħaddas lir-residenti fi dlam kostanti u jdgħajjef ħafna l-kwalità tal-ħajja tagħhom.

Barra minn hekk, il-mina li ġiet ippreżentata bħala miżura ewlenija ta’ mitigazzjoni matul l-approvazzjoni oriġinali – maħsuba biex tiddevja t-traffiku, l-emissjonijiet u l-istorbju taħt l-art – qatt ma mmaterjalizzat, u dan jikkonferma li din l-hekk imsejħa miżura ta’ mitigazzjoni kienet biss tattika qarrieqa biex tinkiseb l-approvazzjoni tal-ippjanar.

L-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar (PA) u l-Awtorità tal-Ambjent u r-Riżorsi (ERA) ikomplu jinjoraw it-tħassib leġittimu tar-residenti, u jimponu żviluppi fuq skala kbira li joħonqu l-infrastruttura lokali u jagħmlu ħsara irriversibbli lill-karattru u l-għajxien tal-komunità.

Huwa tal-mistħija li r-residenti, l-organizzazzjonijiet u l-kunsilli lokali huma mġiegħla jaħlu l-ħin, l-enerġija u r-riżorsi biex jikkontestaw deċiżjonijiet tal-biża’ meħuda mill-awtoritajiet pubbliċi li jmorru kontra l-ġid pubbliku. Madankollu, il-ġlieda biex nipproteġu l-ambjent u l-kwalità tal-ħajja tagħna se tkompli.

Appellanti
Moviment Graffitti
Din l-Art Ħelwa
Il-Kunsill Lokali ta’ San Ġiljan
Il-Kunsill Lokali tas-Swieqi
Ir-residenti ta’ Pembroke u s-Swieqi