Sep 01 – GSD Says Government Has Failed To Conduct Necessary Public Consultation On North Mole Power Station
The GSD Opposition says it entirely anticipated the Government’s response on concerns about the processes associated with the North Mole power station. The party says that, “in line with Government’s previous responses it is long winded and largely irrelevant.”
The GSD argues that it does not disrespect any member of the DPC, Ministers included, believing instead that all political debate should take place in an atmosphere of utmost respect, a lesson, it says, “this Government would do well to learn.”
A statement issued this afternoon continued:
“The fact remains that the DPC certificated a document without having the full facts made available to it, at the very least, comments on the document by the MoD were not available, the Town Planner made clear these would be addressed separately between Government and the MoD, denying both the DPC and the wider public an opportunity to assess the impact of these issues. The Minister was making policy on the hoof to address the very real concerns of the ESG, in so doing negating some of the content of the EIA.
“No matter how environmentally clean the Government claims the power station to be, the GSD maintains it would still be better for the thousands of homes in the vicinity not to have a power station there at all.
“Government remains at pains to point out how the meetings of the DPC are now held in public, something the GSD welcomes, however, there is no value in having public meetings, any more than there is any value in more frequent meetings of Parliament, if the right and correct information is not brought into the public domain through these meetings.
“The Government has failed to hold the necessary level of public consultation for this project as prescribed by EU law, it has mislead the public on issues of safety, first claiming it has all the necessary safety reports for the project then admitting it didn’t, it signed the contract for the project before any public awareness even existed about the potential consequences. The GSD will continue to scrutinise Government’s actions and alert the people of Gibraltar whenever the Government behaves in a manner contrary to the best interests of the people.”
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