Graffitti activist Andre Callus […] said that the PA’s fuel service stations policy was clear. “The policy did not include that one can create a new petrol station; this was added after the consultation process following meetings with individuals. This was done on purpose to accommodate certain people.”

Callus said the problem with the policy was not that it allowed the relocation of petrol stations from urban areas, but that it allowed for 3,000 square metre complexes for shopping under the guise of petrol stations. “We don’t need more than 200 sq.m for a petrol station,” Callus said, adding that so far, the 15 pending applications would amount to five times the size of the Floriana Granaries.

Agreeing with Callus, Chetcuti said that the MDA had been against the policy from the beginning, but that he did not approve of the way Moviment Graffitti and Kamp Emergenza Ambjent staged their protest last week.

Here,  presenter Saviour Balzan interjected to say that if it weren’t for the protest, no pressure would have ever been made on the fuel policy review. But Chetcuti said that PA board members should not be pressured into taking decisions based on “emotions”.

To this, Callus said that the board meetings were a “farce” as the decisions get made beforehand. “The board has approved over 90% of all applications, and only two or three persons would vote against. Developers don’t create pressure. They run the country.”