Times of Malta, 31st October 2009 The character of Balluta Square would be spoiled if a proposal by the St Julians council for an underground car park went ahead, according to Din l-Art Ħelwa, the heritage trust. “The square should remain intact… none of its charming features should be removed nor any trees cut down to make way for the construction of...
Sunday Times of Malta, 4 October 2009, by Ivan Camilleri in Brussels – Two petitions on the proposed controversial tourist development at Ta’ Ċenċ have been left open by the European Parliament pending the conclusion of further discussions between the Commission and Malta later this month. A Commission representative said although Malta had already adhered to the Commission’s directive to insert the...
Sunday Times of Malta, 20 September 2009, by Caroline Muscat – The Malta Environment and Planning Authority has dismantled its environmental enforcement unit, just five years after making a €280,000 investment to improve its enforcement capacity. The Sunday Times has learnt that the environment inspectorate is no longer a functioning unit, with most of the personnel previously dedicated to the enforcement of...
Times of Malta 12 August 2009, by Kurt Sansone – The International Council of Monuments and Sites has lambasted the government for “ignoring” its obligations when it failed to address a number of issues raised by Unesco on Valletta’s world heritage status. The organisation was reacting to the news that Unesco’s World Heritage Committee has asked the government to submit a state...
Times of Malta, 7 August 2009 The government has proposed that a representative of the Mellieħa local council sit on the board of the Majjistral Park, increasing the number of members from seven to eight. A draft legal notice has been issued and will be open to public consultation for four weeks before coming into force. Another proposal lays down a procedure that...
Times of Malta, 13 August 2009 The decision not to completely ban hunting and trapping at the Majjistral Park was incongruent with the rationale for such a protected area, the Malta Tourism Society said. While it understood hunting and trapping had become part of the social culture and traditions of a sector of the population, it stressed the need for appropriate zones...
Times of Malta, 1st August 2009, by Kurt Sansone – The Prime Minister allayed fears of a return to the politician-driven planning processes of the past and insisted a reformed authority would remain responsible for the revision of the structure and local plans. He was reacting to fears expressed by various critics on the proposal made in the Malta Environment and Planning...