‘Valid reasons’ convince Bartolo to flip vote in fuel station permit

Labour MP Clayton Bartolo, who represents the government on the Planning Authority board, has defended his U-turn on a fuel station in Magħtab. In December, the PA board provisionally voted six to two against the controversial proposal. However, when the board met again last week, the project was approved by 10 votes to four, despite the plans remaining unchanged. Mr Bartolo was one of two board members to change his vote between the two meetings while the six members absent for the December hearing all voted in favour this time. When contacted, Mr Bartolo said that he changed his mind after the “applicant gave valid reasons against the reasons for refusal” that he and other board members put forward in December and after he reviewed the case officer’s report which recommended approval. “It transpired that this application is in line with the fuel stations policy. Hence, I voted in favour,” he said. The other board member to flip his vote, Transport Malta official Ivan Tabone, refused to speak to the Times of Malta when contacted about his vote. “I won’t listen to you. Do not contact me again,” he said before abruptly ending the conversation. The 3,500-square-metre project by...