Commissioner for Environment and Planning interviewed on Campus FM

Commissioner for Environment and Planning interviewed on Campus FM

Published February 27, 2026

The Commissioner for Environment and Planning, Perit Alan Saliba, was interviewed by Prof Andrew Azzopardi on Campus FM, in a discussion that focused on the Commissioner’s role within the Office of the Ombudsman and current pressures in the planning sector.

During the interview, Perit Saliba explained how the Commissioner for Environment and Planning forms part of the Ombudsman structure, and how the Office supports people who feel they have been treated unfairly by public authorities. He spoke about the challenges that arise in planning, including the need to strike a fair balance between development and environmental protection. He also referred to the importance of reform in planning laws.

The interview also referenced a position paper published by the Office of the Parliamentary Ombudsman, Ensuring Safe and Unobstructed Mobility on Public Pavements and in Public Places. The paper urges immediate action to address the growing obstruction of pavements and public spaces, particularly by outdoor catering establishments. It identifies the unchecked spread of tables, chairs, and related furniture in public areas as a serious and ongoing infringement on the rights of older persons, persons with disabilities, and families with young children.

The position paper sets out practical recommendations aimed at safeguarding accessibility, mobility, and the safe use of public spaces.