The controversial developments planned in outside development zones will be the subject of a debate to be chaired by Times of Malta on Wednesday.

Last June, over 3,000 people gathered in Valletta to demonstrate their concerns about the dwindling countryside, and to protest against the take-up of further land for construction in areas outside the development zones.

The protest was linked to the planned American University at Zonqor, but since then other projects have come to the fore that continue to raise concerns on the protection of open spaces for the public.

The debate will also focus on amendments to regulations that are seeing ruins developed into villas in the countryside, and illegal buildings applying for sanctioning under the new rules.

Planning Parliamentary Secretary Michael Falzon will explain the government’s position while confronted with concerns raised by Alan Deidun, an environment columnist and council member of Din l-Art Helwa.

Labour MP Marlene Farrugia who has expressed strong concerns on the use of ODZ land will also be among the panel. The President of the Malta Developers Association, Sandro Chetcuti, will also be there to speak for the construction industry and will be tasked to sustain claims he made about the protection of ODZ land. Shadow Environment Minister Marthese Portelli will be justifying the stand by the Nationalist Party on ODZ use.

The debate, entitled Il-Futur tal-ODZ: Ghal Maltin kollha jew ghall-ispekulaturi biss? (The fuure of ODZ: For the Maltese or for speculators?), will be chaired by the Times of Malta senior journalist Caroline Muscat.

Do the new policies for building in rural areas, as well as the government’s new strategic plan, provide adequate safeguards for the protection of the countryside? Will this approach lead to more speculation and the further destruction and loss of the countryside?

The debate organised by Din L-Art Helwa will be held in Maltese on Wednesday, at the University of Malta’s Valletta Campus in St Paul’s Street, Valletta, at 7 pm. Entrance is free.

Any questions readers want addressed at the conference can be sent to: caroline.muscat@timesofmalta.com