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Public Meetings At The Planning Authority Will Never Be The Same Again Following New Security Measures

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Anyone that showed up at today’s Planning Authority public consultation to find out whether Malta’s artistic and environmental community had been lied to (SPOILER: they were) were greeted with three newly-instated police officers at the door.

Their presence comes after a number of recent rowdy public consultations at the Planning Authority’s offices in Floriana. Now, anyone with an interest in attending a meeting or raising their concerns will have to empty their pockets and bags, be pat-down, and face a metal detector before entering.

Robert Louis Fenech, who attended the meeting, said that he had never seen anything like this at the Planning Authority’s consultations

As he entered, he was asked to empty every pocket in his bag. After covering the policeman’s desk with crisp crumbs and loose garbage from all the foraging, he eventually gave up and just left his bag in the car.

Considering that the Planning Authority considering at least two much-maligned public applications today – with the other one regarding a proposed mega-petrol station on ODZ land in Luqa – these increased security measure might start becoming a regular occurrence, especially at more controversial meetings. 

However, Mr Fenech, and many other activists, were not convinced that the measures would stop anyone from having their say anyway. “Anyone wanting to attend and protest would still do so, it’s not like it’s a major hurdle,” he said. 

Mere minutes after Mr Fenech told Lovin Malta this statement, he and another activist were forcibly removed from the Luqa petrol station consultation after he attempted to take photos. 

The Is-Suq tal-Belt consultation revolved around a broken promise by both the Arkadia group, who own Is-Suq tal-Belt, as well as the Valletta 2018 Foundation. The group had been given the little piazza in Valletta as a concession under the guise of it being used as an exhibition space.

“Instead, two particular restaurants at the Suq have that area for seating. The other restaurants’ patrons would also like to sit outside, so they will now also be encroaching on the road, similar to other merchant street establishments,” said Mr Fenech.

“Meanwhile the supposed exhibition space, given over to two particular restaurants, will be enclosed with glass. Instead, this exhibition space they were given the concession for has turned into ‘a cultural event once a month’,” he said.

What do you think of this increased security?

READ NEXT: Planning Authority Chairman Explains Why Police Were Called In To Remove Maltese Activist

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Johnathan is an award-winning Maltese journalist interested in social justice, politics, minority issues, music and food. Follow him at @supreofficialmt on Instagram, and send him news, food and music stories at [email protected]

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