Momentum pledged to submit motions calling for the former Marsa power station site to be granted in concession to Valletta FC for the development of a new football ground and related facilities.At the same time, Momentum would also table a motion to extend the existing Natura 2000 protected area in Pembroke to include nearby undeveloped public land currently being considered for development.Momentum strongly opposes plans supported by both the Labour Party and Nationalist Party to develop a stadium on natural land in Pembroke, directly adjacent to a protected Natura 2000 site.The party argues that the project risks irreversible environmental damage through increased traffic, parking pressure, trampling, noise, and especially light pollution affecting surrounding protected habitats and biodiversity.Momentum also warns that large-scale stadium projects rarely consist solely of sports facilities. It states that such developments are often accompanied by extensive commercial activity, including retail outlets, entertainment venues, parking infrastructure and increased traffic generation, which would place further pressure on Pembroke residents already facing congestion, overdevelopment and reduced quality of life.The party said residents deserve transparency on the full scale and long-term consequences of the project. It adds that the cumulative impact of commercialisation, noise, traffic and intensified urbanisation would fundamentally alter the character of the area and further strain surrounding communities and infrastructure.Momentum insists several key questions must be answered before any development proceeds:Has a full Environmental Impact Assessment been conducted and published?What impacts would the proposed development have on the adjacent Natura 2000 site?Has the area been properly surveyed for protected habitats and species?Has the European Commission been notified in line with Article 6 of the EU Habitats Directive?Will all environmental studies and biodiversity mapping be made publicly accessible?The party is calling for full transparency and the publication of all studies related to the site.Momentum emphasised that it is not opposed to Valletta FC having a modern stadium. It says the club deserves high-quality facilities, but that this should not come at the expense of destroying one of the few remaining natural open spaces in Malta when viable alternatives, such as the former Marsa power station site, already exist.“Malta does not have to choose between sport and the environment. We can have modern sporting infrastructure while still safeguarding the little natural land we have left. The Marsa site offers a sensible solution that respects both community needs and environmental responsibility. Future generations deserve leaders who protect what remains of Malta’s natural heritage rather than sacrificing it for short-term political convenience,” wrote Momentum Chairperson Arnold Cassola.What do you make of this?•