Contrary to what Minister Ian Borg has claimed that none of the public objected to the destruction of trees at Santa Lucia and by the Addolorata Cemetery, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) can confirm that it held a meeting with the Minister on this very subject on the 4th of July 2018.
During this meeting the FAA Committee put forward its objections to the wholesale destruction of trees of trees that the Centre Link project involves, as well as Government’s lack of action on public transport. FAA strongly urged the upgrading of public transport and the launching of incentives to encourage people to leave their cars at home, which are main long-term measures to solve traffic jams. Widening roads are short-term, damaging solutions only serve to encourage more cars.
Furthermore, a second meeting was held on the 24th of July 2018 between the Minister and NGO representatives from FAA, Birdlife Malta, NatureTrust Malta, Attard Residents and Villa Frere, who echoed the same message.
It is ridiculous and disingenuous of the Minister to try to place this responsibility on NGO volunteers, stating that they should have appealed the permit in order to block the process. It is the Planning Authority and the Environment Resource Authority who are the primary bodies responsible for safeguarding Malta’s environment a duty they have ignored for years.
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