Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party expressed its support for the protest by St. Julian’s residents against overdevelopment of the village. An AD delegation led by Chairperson Michael Briguglio and Deputy Chairperson Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer participated in the activity.
Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said: “It is about time to stop overdevelopment at St. Julian’s. Various unsustainable developments are being proposed, and we support St. Julian’s residents who want to reclaim public space and prevent the village from further uglification. A case in point is the proposed development at Portomaso. The proposed development should be refused by MEPA. The simple reason that it violates the previous approved development – which in itself was controversial – should be enough for the MEPA board to immediately turn down the application. The proposed development will result in further construction on the coast in an overdeveloped area. If the MEPA board approves development against its own previous approvals, the board members should resign.”
Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer, AD Deputy Chairperson, said: “I am utterly shocked and disgusted at what is going to happen to St. Julian’s if the irresponsible developers who want to destroy the last (supposedly) protected and open spaces are not stopped. The most annoying and alarming thing is that all this is with the blessing of MEPA. The only area around Portomaso which was originally supposed to remain unbuilt will eventually be built, and to crown it all there have been applications to build blocks of flats in Spinola square. All this is shameful and is an act of vandalism towards St. Julian’s and its residents. I wonder what the Local Council is doing and if there were any objections from their part.”
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“San Giljan ma tiflahx l-izvilupp bla razan” AD
Alternattiva Demokratika esprimiet l-appogg ghall-protesta organizzata mir-residenti ta’ San Giljan kontra l-izvilupp bla razan fil-lokalita’. Delegazzjoni tal-AD immexxija mic-Chairperson Michael Briguglio u d-eputat Chiarperson Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer ippartecipat fl-attivita’.
Michael Briguglio, Chairperson tal-AD, qal: “Wasal iz-zmien li nwaqqfu l-izvilupp bla razan f’San Giljan. Hemm proposti varji ta’ zvilupp insostenibbli, u ahna nappoggjaw ir-residenti ta’ San Giljan li jridu jiehdu lura l-ispazju pubbliku u jiprevjenu l-belt minn aktar kruha. Ezempju ta’ dan huwa l-izvilupp f’Portomaso. L-izvilupp propost ghandu jigi irrifjutat mill-MEPA. Ir-raguni semplici hija li jmur kontra l-izvilupp approvat precedenti – li diga kien kontroversjali – li huwa bizzejjed sabiex il-bord tal-MEPA tirrifjuta l-applikazzjoni immedjatament. L-izvilupp propost se jirrizulta f’aktar kostruzzjoni mal-kosta f’zona zviluppata. Jekk il-bord tal-MEPA tapprova dan l-izvilupp kontra d-decizzjonijiet li hadu huma nnifishom fl-approvazzjoni precedenti, il-memberi tal-bord ghandhom jirrizenjaw.”
Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer, Deputat Chairperson tal-AD, qalet: “Jien ixxukjata u nesprimi stmerrija fuq dak li qed jigri f’San Giljan jekk l-izviluppaturi irresponsabbli li jridu jkisru l-ahhar (suppost) spazji protetti u miftuha ma jigux imwaqfa.L-aktar hafa allarmati f’din il-kwitjoni hija lid an qed isir bil-barka tal-MEPA. L-ahhar spazju madwar Portomaso li originarjament kellu jibqa’ mhux mibni se jkun eventualment zviluppat, u biex tkompli tagrava s-sitwazzjoni hemm ukoll l-applikazzjonijiet biex jinbnew blokkijiet tal-flats fil-Pjazza Spinola. Dan kollu huwa tal-misthija u att ta’ vandalizmu lejn ir-residenti ta’ San Giljan u l-lokalita’ innifisha. Nistaqsi x’inhu jaghmel il-Kunsill Lokali u jekk ghamlhux oggezzjonijiet min-naha taghhom”.
