Extensions to big Spinola car park and commercial complex approved despite controversy

The Planning Authority has approved extensions to the massive car park and commercial complex being built in Spinola despite concerns that the project will seriously affect air quality in the area. Changes to the project, which began life as a car park proposal in 2013, were approved by an overwhelming majority this morning, with only Environment and Resources authority chairman Victor Axiak voting against. The ERA had objected to the proposal in its current form, arguing that it would negatively impact air quality by generating unacceptably high levels of particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide pollution. During the hearing, Prof Axiak commended the developers’ efforts to make the project environmentally friendly but described the measures as “eyewash for the real problems”, calling for the whole project to be scaled back. “There is no guarantee that the developers’ air quality measures will work,” he said. “What is certain is that this project will aggravate air quality in an already precarious area, and should therefore be downsized.” The changes approved today will add 115 parking spaces over that already approved, bringing the total capacity to 495 cars. The area and...