Kalkara valley protesters held for obstructing works

Three members of the Save the Kalkara Valley Front were arrested yesterday after they attempted to obstruct the driver of a mechanical digger operating in the valley.

Dominican friar Mark Montebello, Ephraem Mallia and Chris Mizzi, together with other members of the front, argued vociferously with the police, calling on them to stop the digging.

About 15 police officers, outnumbering the handful of protesters, grappled with the protesters as tempers flared on both sides. Chris Mizzi is an Alternattiva Demokratika candidate for the local elections.

The plot in the valley that is being excavated is covered by a development permit for a terraced house.

Annalise Falzon, representing Nature Trust and the Save the Kalkara Valley Front, said the front was protesting against the destruction of the valley. It has the backing of 20 environmental non-government organisations, including Nature Trust.

Last October, members of the front who protested against the development by holding a 10-day vigil succeeded in preventing the development.

"The authorities are using this development as a test case before they allow the rest of the valley to be built up," Ms Falzon claimed.

The valley overlooks Kalkara creek, with the striking view extending across Grand Harbour to Valletta.

Initially, the protesters attempted to stop the mechanical digger from advancing along the road leading to the valley by sitting in the middle of the road and later by trying to obstruct the mechanical digger before work started.

Mark Vella, who owns the plot of land, was also present during the protest. He had bought the plot in 1995 and applied for a development permit in January, 1996.

"The development permit was issued nearly six and a half years later because the then Planning Authority first wanted to carry out a study as part of the Grand Harbour local plan.

"My wife and I are legally covered by the development permit but meanwhile these protesters have raised hell, messing up our lives.

"We have been living in a rented property awaiting the development permit. While initially the whole valley was marked for development, now only one part of the valley will be developed," Mr Vella said.

Mr Vella said he had tried to engage several contractors, but most backed out because of the hassle threatened by the protesters.

One of the protesters, Frankie Gatt, who tills the fields nearby, said the valley was the only open green space remaining in Kalkara.

"The rest of Kalkara is either built up or taken up by the bastions.

"Can you imagine the police carting away a priest 30 years ago like they did today," Mr Gatt said.

In a statement, AD said the decision to push development through, regardless of objections, was a major concern.

"With elections in the offing, we have every reason to expect similar occurrences elsewhere.

"We have before us all the clearest evidence that developers come before the rights of residents in the priorities of those who hold power in the country.

"It is not only the Save the Kalkara Valley Front that is wounded today but the whole country that is unable to save its most valuable assets from greed and misgovernment," AD said.

Labour MP Joe Mizzi raised the issue in an adjournment speech in parliament, insisting that there was ample evidence in documents of the Planning Authority and the Environment Protection Department, that for environmental reasons, no building could take place in Kalkara valley.

He said he could not understand how the authority's Development Control Commission had issued permits for development when there were pending court cases about the area and decisions on permits in this case could only be taken by the authority's board.

He said a future Labour government would rush legislation to stop any development in progress at Kalkara valley and it would rehabilitate the site. Those whose permits were issued legally would be compensated.