The public consultation documents on the commercialisation of sports facilities makes no reference to the consideration of impact on the environment and on residential areas, Alternattiva Demokratika said.

In its feedback to the document, AD, through deputy chairman Carmel Cacopardo, said that while one understood and agreed with the ultimate aim of the document, there were serious possibilities of abuse in the manner in which the proposal could be implemented.

The document, Mr Cacopardo said, laid considerable emphasis on the financial analysis of the proposal but there was no reference to the consideration of impacts on the environment and residential areas.

“Notwithstanding the financial feasibility of a specific proposal it could just the same be unacceptable in principle due to:

1) it being located to close to the coast,

2) it being too close to a residential area,

3) its negative impacts on historical or natural heritage,

4) its lying outside the development zone.”

This, Mr Cacopardo said, should be addressed very early in the examination of proposals submitted not just to avoid unnecessary expenses but also to ensure that damaging proposals were nipped in the bud.

“It is not a sufficient precaution that the consultation document subjects proposals to a development permit. The parameters defining the acceptability or otherwise of a project should be determined very early in the day,” he said.