The alternative plans proposed by the Qormi Local Council for the Imrieħel area have been met with “optimism” and “satisfaction” by Moviment Graffitti. In a statement, the activist group lauded the new plans which will address the traffic safety problem quoted by Infrastructure Malta, without taking up a single inch of arable land.
The plans, commissioned by the Council and designed by architectural firm DAAA Haus also envisage a four-lane underpass instead of the flyover proposed by Infrastructure Malta. The Qormi Local Council commissioned these studies immediately after a meeting between the Council and Transport Minister Ian Borg, who had promised to both council and the public, through an interview given to Times of Malta, that he will consider alternatives that do not necessitate the taking up of farmland.
“The revised plans are a huge improvement over the monstrous structure proposed by Infrastructure Malta,” said a spokesperson for the group. “We are obviously in favour of a proposal that addresses traffic concerns without eating up any arable land whatsoever. We believe this proposal is a no-brainer, since it will allow Minister Borg to continue his work on the road network without destroying more farmland. By accepting this proposal, Minister Borg can claim to have saved 14 tumoli of arable land, and the farmers – for whom he has repeatedly professed his loyalty – will not lose the land and produce they’ve looked after for generations.”
The group also called on politicians and candidates on the Qormi district to review the plans and take a stance in favour of what is a “win-win” solution for both farmers and authorities.
Two other NGOs reacted to the Local Council’s proposals. Biking NGO Rota praised the revised plans which “provide a safer and direct access for cyclists on both sides of the road, with frequent access to the Central Business District in an environment which is safe for people cycling across Mrieħel.”
Rota also said that the revised plans demonstrate that it is possible to provide infrastructure for cyclists at street level, without forcing them into crammed lifts and bridges, thus creating inconveniences for the most vulnerable users.
Farming NGO MaYA Foundation welcomed the discussions for revision of plans which are set to spare a huge amount of arable land and looks forward to further discuss the alternative proposals in terms of any impacts from excavated material.
“The need for building road infrastructure needs to be justified by further scientific evidence. Nobody should use public funds to propose a project of considerable impact without solid justifications. On the other hand, if there are any plans for excavation, it has to be clearly stated where the disposal of such material will be made.”
Moviment Graffitti also called on other Local Councils facing similar roadbuilding and development projects to come together and propose alternatives which will ensure that infrastructural issues are tackled, without any loss of quality of life for residents and farmers around the island.
- MaYA
- Moviment Graffitti
- Rota
Il-Moviment Graffitti jfaħħar l-isforzi tal-Kunsill sabiex jippreserva l-komunità agrikola
Il-pjanijiet alternattivi proposti mill-Kunsill Lokali ta’ Ħal Qormi għaż-żona tal-Imriehel intlaqgħu b’“ottimiżmu u sodisfazzjon” mill-Moviment Graffitti. Fi stqarrija, il-grupp attivista faħħar l-pjanijiet il-ġodda li se jindirizzaw il-problema tas-sikurezza tat-traffiku kkwotata minn Infrastructure Malta mingħajr ma tittieħed ebda art agrikola.
Il-pjanijiet, ikkummissjonati mill-Kunsill u ddiżinjati mid-ditta tal-arkitettura DAAA Haus jipprevedu wkoll mina b’erba’ karreġġjati minflok il-flyover proposta minn Infrastructure Malta. Il-Kunsill Lokali ta’ Ħal Qormi kkummissjona dawn l-istudji immedjatament wara laqgħa bejn il-Kunsill u l-Ministru għat-Trasport Ian Borg, li kien wiegħed kemm lill-kunsill kif ukoll lill-pubbliku, permezz ta’ intervista mogħtija lil Times of Malta, li se jikkunsidra alternattivi li ma jeħtieġu ebda użu ta’ art agrikola.
“Il-pjanijiet riveduti huma titjib enormi fuq l-istruttura mostruża proposta minn Infrastructure Malta,” qal kelliem għall-grupp.
“Aħna ovvjament favur proposta li tindirizza t-tħassib tat-traffiku mingħajr ma tintilef iżjed art agrikola. Aħna nemmnu li din il-proposta hija waħda ta’ sens komun, peress li se tippermetti lill-Ministru Borg ikompli jaħdem fuq il-pjan tat-toroq tiegħu mingħajr ma jeqred aktar art agrikola. Billi jaċċetta din il-proposta, il-Ministru Borg jista’ jiddikjara li ffranka 14-il tomna ta’ raba’ saqwi, u l-bdiewa – li kemm-il darba qal li jħobb – ma jitilfux l-art u l-prodotti tagħhom li ilhom jindukraw għal ġenerazzjoni wara oħra.”
Il-grupp talab ukoll lill-politiċi u l-kandidati fid-distrett ta’ Ħal Qormi sabiex jaraw huma wkoll il-pjanijiet u jieħdu pożizzjoni favur dik li hija soluzzjoni fejn jirbħu kemm il-bdiewa kif ukoll l-awtoritajiet.
Żewġ NGOs oħra taw ir-reazzjonijiet tagħhom għall-proposti tal-Kunsill Lokali. Rota, NGO fil-qasam taċ-ċiklisti, faħħret il-pjanijiet riveduti li “se jipprovdu aċċess iżjed sikur u dirett liċ-ċiklisti miż-żewġ naħat tat-triq, b’aċċess ħafif għas-Central Business District u f’ambjent sikur għaċ-ċiklisti tul l-Imrieħel.”
Rota qalet ukoll li l-pjanijiet riveduti juru li huwa possibbli li tingħata infrastruttura liċ-ċiklisti fl-istess pjan tat-triq, mingħajr ma jkollhom bilfors jidħlu marsusin ġo liftijiet u pontijiet u b’hekk jiġu evitati inkonvenjenti għall-iktar utenti vulnerabbli.
Il-MaYA Foundation, NGO attiva fil-biedja, laqgħet id-diskussjonijiet għar-reviżjoni tal-pjanijiet li għandhom isalvaw ħafna tmiem ta’ raba’ saqwi u tistenna bil-ħerqa li tiddiskuti l-proposti alternattivi f’termini ta’ impatti mill-materjal skavat.
“Il-ħtieġa għall-bini tal-infrastruttura tat-toroq għandha tiġi ġġustifikata minn provi xjentifiċi. Ħadd ma għandu juża l-fondi pubbliċi biex jiġi propost proġett ta’ impatt konsiderevoli mingħajr ebda ġustifikazzjoni. Min-naħa l-oħra, jekk hemm xi pjanijiet għal skavar, għandu jsir magħruf fejn se jintrema dan il-materjal.”
Il-Moviment Graffitti talab ukoll lil kunsilli lokali oħra li qed jiffaċċjaw proġetti simili ta’ bini u żvilupp tat-toroq sabiex jingħaqdu flimkien u jipproponu alternattivi li jiżguraw li l-kwistjonijiet infrastrutturali jiġu ttrattati mingħajr ma tintilef il-kwalità tal- ħajja tar-residenti u l-bdiewa madwar il-gżira.
- MaYA
- Moviment Graffitti
- Rota
