Momentum criticises postponement of Manoel Island padel courts decision amid legality concerns
The Planning Authority has postponed a final decision on whether to sanction illegal padel courts built on Manoel Island in Gżira, prompting criticism from the party Momentum, which said in a statement that the delay prolongs uncertainty and undermines confidence in the enforcement of planning laws.
The case concerns sports facilities that were constructed without the necessary permits and later submitted for possible sanctioning.
The postponement means that no final ruling has yet been made on whether the structures will be regularised or removed.
Momentum on Thursday expressed “serious concern and disappointment” at the delay, arguing that it risks reinforcing perceptions that illegal development can be carried out first and addressed later through fines or retrospective approval.
The party said the situation raises broader questions about whether planning rules are applied consistently, particularly in cases involving commercial developments on public land.
It warned that allowing developments to proceed without prior approval could set a precedent that weakens the planning system.
Momentum also said that a Planning Authority case officer had previously recommended sanctioning the development in exchange for a €900 fine, a recommendation that sparked public debate and criticism given the scale of the project and its location on publicly owned land.
The padel courts are located on Manoel Island, an area long associated with proposals for public access and, now, its transformation into a national park and open recreational space.
The party also referenced concerns about possible archaeological remains beneath the site, saying these considerations further underline the need for caution and proper permitting before any construction takes place.
Chairperson of Momentum Arnold Cassola said the postponement should not become a means of normalising illegal development.
He said that “Manoel Island belongs to the people of Malta, not to speculative commercial interests,” and argued that illegal structures should not be rewarded with retrospective permits or symbolic penalties.
Momentum said the case goes beyond a single development, describing it as part of a wider issue concerning the credibility of Malta’s planning framework, the use of public land, and the enforcement of environmental and heritage protections.
The party called on the Planning Authority to reject the application outright and to require the removal of the existing structures, insisting that Malta needs a planning system based on transparency, legality, and the public interest.
Concluding its statement, Momentum said that repeated controversies over illegal development reflect deeper structural problems in governance and planning policy.
It said that decades of political dominance by major parties have contributed to a system where enforcement is perceived as inconsistent.
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