AD laments building's descheduling

Alternattiva Demokratika has deplored the descheduling by Mepa of a grade 3 property adjacent to Villa Cassar Torreggiani, in Balluta, St Julians.

The green party said that at a public hearing last Thursday an unexpected blow was dealt to historical buildings at the edge of the square at Balluta which lend character to the setting of the parish church.

Environment spokesman Mark Causon said: "Application PA 3408/03 for the demolishing of number 7, Ir-Rampa Tas-San Giljan to be developed as an apartment block has slipped through a well greased net.

"The grade 3 listing was intended to protect the building, which has some features of architectural merit. Normally a grade 3 status building can only be redeveloped under the strict condition that any new structure would reflect the original surroundings. A massive hotel development has sprung up at the edge of the valley mouth.

"If the minister bends to the planning board's request without adequate justification he will be held personally responsible for the capricious reversal of a historical property scheduling which was accompanied by huge fanfare when the building was first protected.

"This unfortunate bending of the rules reveals the inconsistency of those who have spoken so frequently of sustainable development but in reality they break under pressure, displaying a poor degree of loyalty to upholding the conservation of heritage in the urban environment.

'Mepa should be ashamed of itself for even thinking of stealing away this small corner of architectural heritage from the citizens of St Julians, much less recommending that the minister rubber stamp it."