The Government is intent on curtailing the rights of citizens and NGOs to file appeals from Planning Authority decisions.
Knowledgeable sources have informed Momentum that Government will enact legislation limiting the time within which to appeal from PA decisions to the Tribunal to 15 days. The same short period of 15 days will apply to recourse to the Court of Appeal.
Momentum chairman Arnold Cassola said ” this is clearly an attempt to restrict the public’s right to appeal. Fifteen days is not enough time for citizens to get advice from legal and architectural professionals to file an appeal. Robert Abela’s Government wants to neutralise this right. It has learnt nothing from the Jean Paul Sofia inquiry recommendations and is intent on keeping rampant construction above the law”.
Momentum jikkundanna b’qawwa il-pjanijiet tal-gvern biex jillimita d-dritt għal appelli fl-ippjanar
Il-Gvern jidher determinat li jċaħħad liċ-ċittadini u lill-NGOs mid-dritt li jappellaw deċiżjonijiet ta’ l-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar.
Sorsi infurmati qalu lil Momentum li l-Gvern se jdaħħal liġi li tillimita ż-żmien li wieħed għandu biex jappella minn deċiżjonijiet tal-Awtorità tal-ippjanar quddiem it-Tribunal għal 15-il ġurnata. L-istess perjodu qasir ta’ 15-il jum japplika wkoll għal rikors lill-Qorti tal-Appell.
Iċ-chairman ta’ Momentum, Arnold Cassola, qal: “Dan huwa attentat ovvju biex jitnaqqas id-dritt tal-pubbliku li jappella. Ħmistax-il jum mhumiex biżżejjed biex iċ-ċittadini jiksbu pariri mingħand professjonisti legali u periti biex jippreżentaw appell. Il-Gvern ta’ Robert Abela qed jipprova jnaqqar kemm jista’ minm dan id-dritt. Ma tgħallem xejn mir-rakkomandazzjonijiet tal-inkjesta ta’ Jean Paul Sofia u għadu determinat li jżomm il-kostruzzjoni bla kontroll u ’il fuq mil-liġi.”
