Post by L Roebuck on Nov 23, 2005 9:58:31 GMT -5
Sliema caves should be protected – AD
Alternattiva Demokratika has appealed to The Malta Environment and Planning Authority to protect all the caves in the Ghar id-Dud area of Sliema. AD’s appeal came in the wake of the Mepa board decision to surrender the Ghar il-Lembi cave for the proposed development of a car park, due to the cave’s “very weak” internal stability. In the coming weeks, Mepa is due to decide on new plans which will be submitted by the developers of the Chalet project.
AD’s local councillor in Sliema, Michael Briguglio, who was given access by Mepa to see the scientific study commissioned by Mepa on the caves in question, said: “The experts commissioned by Mepa, namely Integrated Resources Management, said that the caves should be proposed as a special area of marine conservation and are valued as sites of special scientific interest. The experts say that the caves have a very high research value, a high historical value, aesthetic value and are the lungs of the residents of the area. In addition, the experts added that the site can definitely be considered fragile and in need of protection from man-made interference, and that the site could prove to be of international importance if focused studies of sea level changes in the area yielded data of regional interest.”
During the last Sliema local council meeting, Mr Briguglio proposed that the council should oppose Mepa’s decision to surrender one of the caves, Ghar il-Lembi, for the proposed development of a car park.
“Following my proposal, a cross-party consensus was reached within the local council, meaning that Alternattiva Demokratika, the Nationalist Party and the Labour Party representatives in Sliema are united in the call for the protection of all the caves in the area. Hopefully, the Mepa board will take heed of this appeal and decide to protect all the caves,” Mr Briguglio added.
AD’s environment spokesman Mark Causon added: “The cave habitats are protected through Schedule I on LN 257/2003 and EU Directive 92/43/EEC and Mepa should ensure that EU directives are followed. The necessary steps should be taken in order to help ensure the protection of these caves because of their value as sites of special scientific interest. In this regard, EU protection programmes could be tapped.
“Alternattiva Demokratika is all for the embellishment of the Ghar id-Dud promenade and for the replacement of the Chalet ruins. However, all such development should be environmentally sustainable and aesthetically pleasing. Any proposal which will compromise the existence of a cave in the area should be rejected,” Mr Causon concluded.
The Malta Independent Online
217.145.4.56/ind/news.asp?newsitemid=24717
Alternattiva Demokratika has appealed to The Malta Environment and Planning Authority to protect all the caves in the Ghar id-Dud area of Sliema. AD’s appeal came in the wake of the Mepa board decision to surrender the Ghar il-Lembi cave for the proposed development of a car park, due to the cave’s “very weak” internal stability. In the coming weeks, Mepa is due to decide on new plans which will be submitted by the developers of the Chalet project.
AD’s local councillor in Sliema, Michael Briguglio, who was given access by Mepa to see the scientific study commissioned by Mepa on the caves in question, said: “The experts commissioned by Mepa, namely Integrated Resources Management, said that the caves should be proposed as a special area of marine conservation and are valued as sites of special scientific interest. The experts say that the caves have a very high research value, a high historical value, aesthetic value and are the lungs of the residents of the area. In addition, the experts added that the site can definitely be considered fragile and in need of protection from man-made interference, and that the site could prove to be of international importance if focused studies of sea level changes in the area yielded data of regional interest.”
During the last Sliema local council meeting, Mr Briguglio proposed that the council should oppose Mepa’s decision to surrender one of the caves, Ghar il-Lembi, for the proposed development of a car park.
“Following my proposal, a cross-party consensus was reached within the local council, meaning that Alternattiva Demokratika, the Nationalist Party and the Labour Party representatives in Sliema are united in the call for the protection of all the caves in the area. Hopefully, the Mepa board will take heed of this appeal and decide to protect all the caves,” Mr Briguglio added.
AD’s environment spokesman Mark Causon added: “The cave habitats are protected through Schedule I on LN 257/2003 and EU Directive 92/43/EEC and Mepa should ensure that EU directives are followed. The necessary steps should be taken in order to help ensure the protection of these caves because of their value as sites of special scientific interest. In this regard, EU protection programmes could be tapped.
“Alternattiva Demokratika is all for the embellishment of the Ghar id-Dud promenade and for the replacement of the Chalet ruins. However, all such development should be environmentally sustainable and aesthetically pleasing. Any proposal which will compromise the existence of a cave in the area should be rejected,” Mr Causon concluded.
The Malta Independent Online
217.145.4.56/ind/news.asp?newsitemid=24717