The ESG was interviewed by GBC on the strength of its objection to the site visit arranged recently to explain the impacts on views from Catalan Bay Village.

The ESG was not convinced, along with a few other DPC members. Additionally the group feels a project of this scale should have additional public outreach and analysis on its environmental impacts.

“We conveyed our preference to see some form of physical interaction for this project between: developers and their expert advisers, and the public , by way of an exhibition where information and answers could be supplied to the community.

We also stressed that the need for the EIA (environmental impact assessments) could receive wider discussion with all bodies in Gibraltar working for Nature and the Environment to agree the collective impact from such a large marina. All our comments can be found in minutes published on the Development and Planning Website.

The ESG understands there has been a huge amount of work done to study this project, its impacts and future evolution. The group has also met several times with Project Developers and a number of their experts and been able to have answers to many of our questions.

We reserve our position to raise additional views going forward given such a mountain of information was supplied which has not all been fully digested.

Finally the group wishes to add that it understands views held by many of the desire to see an end to the mountain of rubble and need for this to be positively tackled. It also knows that there have been at least 4, if not 5 versions contemplated for this area from different Governments with TNG presenting the latest and so far, more advanced project.

The desire to achieve this should not nullify the absolute need to ensure greatest possible environmental protection and preservation of the character of Catalan Bay Village.