The Ġustizzja għal Artna campaign notes that the intense resistance to the developers’ wishlist – the so called planning reform – has resulted in Bills 143 and 144 lapsing with the dissolution of Parliament.

The campaign wishes to acknowledge the efforts of all those who contributed to this unprecedented result, with a major, destructive overhaul of the planning system being stopped in its tracks.

Besides the organisations which launched the campaign and the others which subsequently joined it, the reform was opposed by social partners, residents groups, opposition political parties, and even high ranking officials and activists within the Labour Party. This is not to mention the many thousands of people who answered Ġustizzja għal Artna’s call to join its protests in an unprecedented show of force for Malta and Gozo’s urban and natural environment.

With the election now announced for 30 May, the Ġustizzja għal Artna campaign is calling on all political parties to commit to a reform of planning laws which puts residents and environmental protection first, and to be clear and honest in their political programmes about the reforms they are envisaging.

Such a reform needs to be based on proper studies and actively involve environmental stakeholders. It must also put an end to the constant illegality and the undermining of planning regulations which have become the order of the day. This way, voters will know where each party stands on this critical issue for the future of the environment of Malta and Gozo.

The Ġustizzja għal Artna campaign has recently launched four proposals for real planning reform and is currently awaiting the feedback of political parties on these essential measures, which should form the basis of any reform that our country truly needs.

While the Ġustizzja għal Artna campaign highlights this achievement, it is under no illusion that the forces behind the developers’ wishlist may try to resurrect this reform in some superficially altered form after the election, once voters have been deprived of their greatest power.

Should this dishonest attempt be made, the campaign is determined to undertake an even more firm and sustained campaign of resistance and opposition to the destruction of what remains of our planning system.

Organisations:
BirdLife Malta
Din l-Art Ħelwa
Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar
Friends of the Earth Malta
Front Żgħażagħ għall-Ambjent
Għawdix
Moviment Graffitti
Nature Trust
Ramblers’ Association of Malta
Wirt Għawdex