An application for a fuel station on the outskirts of Iklin has prompted objections from the local council on the grounds that this would eat up part of the precious little rural land left in the area.
The council is arguing that the application at Triq tal-Balal should be rejected immediately, as the earmarked site is less than 500 metres away from the nearest station, in breach of a specific planning policy. Furthermore, the site lies outside the development zone (ODZ).
This application is set to further stoke the debate on a fuel station policy enacted in 2015. Three years down the line, the policy is already set for a review amid accusations that it only served to encourage speculation of ODZ land.
Such claims emerged in the wake of controversial permits issued recently in Burmarrad and Magħtab which prompted Environment Minister Jose Herrera to announce the revision last January.
The application in Iklin was submitted in 2015 by Paul Falzon and seems to have remained under the radar until last week when the council voiced its objections.
No overriding justification for further loss of agricultural land
Spread over an area of approximately 3,000 square metres of rural land, the proposal is not limited to fuel pumps but comprises a car wash facility as well as an automated teller machine. The site is walking distance from VC Service station on the outskirts of Għargħur.
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The Iklin council is arguing that the Strategic Plan for the Environment and Development (SPED) states that ODZ sites should only be considered as a last resort. Furthermore, it was noted that the site is not among the list of preferred ones listed in the fuel station policy and lies just 297 metres from another station. This latter point is significant as the minimum distance should be 500 metres.
The council also made the point that the area lies within a protected zone of hydrological importance, and consequently such a facility might pose the risk of groundwater contamination.
Objections have been made by the Environment Resources Authority which has remarked that there was no overriding justification for further loss of agricultural land.
Concern was also expressed by the Environment Resources Authority regarding the cumulative environmental impact caused by the numerous ad hoc proposals for petrol stations currently being proposed on ODZ land.
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It noted that in line with the Fuel Service Stations Policy, uncommitted sites should be the least favourably considered. Consequently, it deemed this application as objectionable from an environmental point of view.
Meanwhile, a separate application for a fuel station adjacent to the Water Services Station in Luqa is being recommended for approval. The decision will be taken in the coming days. Once again such advice is being given despite the objections of the environment watchdog.