Project promises worry planners

The Malta Chamber of Planners said yesterday it is deeply concerned about statements being made which are clearly designed to undermine spatial planning as a viable public-administration activity and the openings which EU membership would offer for the profession.

"For example, declarations such as promises of the realisation of potentially high-impact, large-scale projects, which are not even contemplated in local plans, is considered to be a clear message to the public that we might be going back to the highly dangerous 'instant-project' approach to decision-making," it said.

"This approach certainly undermines the integrated approach to planning for sustainable development and risks dispensing with social and environmental considerations for short term economic gains. This is the antithesis to planning," it warned.

This attitude was also being reflected by strong rumours that certain electoral candidates were promising the issue of instant development permissions for applications submitted by potential voters.

The chamber strongly condemned such a practice, where in an effort to gain votes, potential candidates offered their constituents promises which "went beyond rationality".