The Environment Authority, councils and NGOs had no right to appeal the Planning Authority's controversial decision to give a permit to two skyscrapers in Sliema, the Planning Authority said this afternoon. 

A review tribunal will decide on January 19 about the appeal on Sliema Townsquare, incensing NGOs who gathered at the PA offices this afternoon. 

The opening sitting was characterised by legal arguments, with the PA saying objectors had no right to file the appeal as it was party to the decision, having been represented on the planning board.

The PA narrowly approved the 38-storey Townsquare project in August.

PA chairman Vince Cassar and deputy chairwoman Elizabeth Ellul had both voted against the application, but were outvoted 7-6 by the PA board after a long and often-tense public hearing.

The chairman of the Environment Authority, despite having a seat on the board, did not attend because of medical reasons.

The appeal was filed separately by ERA, the Sliema council and several environment NGOs.

Dr Robert Abela, appearing for the Planning Authority, said that once the ERA, the environmental NGOs and the councils were represented on the planning board when major projects were considered, they could not now appeal a decision they were a party of.

The appellants insisted the PA argument did not make sense and should be rejected, because it would otherwise mean that their right to appeal decisions on major projects would be taken away. 

In a Facebook post shortly after, Michael Briguglio from Front Ħarsien ODZ described the decision as "one step forward two steps back".

PN: The prime minister has some explaining to do

In a statement, the Nationalist Party said the Planning Authority's argument before the tribunal was a slap in the face to those who believed that the environment and local councils would have a stronger voice with the Mepa demerger.  

It also showed how the institutions which were meant to safeguard the people's interests were being eroded.