Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) welcomes the Planning Authority’s refusal of an application to approve an illegal parking site on ODZ (Out of Development Zone) land to serve a garage next to Ta’ Ħagrat Temples.
FAA which has been campaigning to protect Ta’ Ħagrat prehistoric temples for years, objected that approving this car park would have an adverse impact on Ta’ Ħagrat Temples, a World Heritage site, jeopardising Ta’ Ħagrat’s UNESCO World Heritage status.
FAA maintained that this application would set a dangerous precedent whereby parking facilities that are not available within building zones, would be accepted in ODZ, opening the floodgates for more degradation of the countryside and take-up of sites all over Malta and Gozo through similar requests.
This refusal follows the refusal of the application to develop Villa Leoni in St Julian’s and also the refusal of the latest attempt to develop Villino Giannin, which would have ruined its historic Baroque garden.
However this is no time for complacency. The Tumas application to build 68 apartments plus commerical properites on the only remaining open site in St Julian’s, threatens the very core of this old town with a massive internal develpment that will choke its narrow lanes with traffic.
FAA appreciates the input of the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage:
“The development within historic sites is to be carried out in such a manner so as to ensure that the historic sites’ skyline and streetscape are not adversely affected…and is averse to the proposed building height and the proposed design of the façade which is in total disharmony with the existing streetscape … The works will result in a drastic change in the appearance of the existing streetscape.”
This application has drawn some 350 objections and FAA trusts that the Planning Authority will realise that such a project is neither sustainable nor desireable for an area that dates back centuries.
Similarly worrying are plans to turn the garden of Mosta’s Villa Gollcher into a car-park. This 13,000 sq.m Mosta garden is presently full of citrus trees and though the garden is protected from development by the Local Plan as a “green enclave”, the historic villa and garden have not been granted heritage protection. FAA calls on the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage to schedule them as soon as possible.
It is a sad fact that until the Planning Authority commits to its real remit of protecting Malta’s heritage and quality of life, this duty falls to NGOs and residents who need to remain vigilant and involved in the protection of their local heritage, which ultimately ensures the liveability and quality of life of Malta’s towns and villages.
