'Tent' atop Cittadella

Alternattiva Demokratika's Gozo regional committee has expressed concern over the erection of a large tent, using concrete blocks to support it, on the historic Cittadella bastions, in Victoria.

No signs or explanation notices of what seemed to be a temporary construction are evident except for a "sorry for the inconvenience" sign, the committee said.

Committee spokesman Victor Galea said that in Gozo the word "temporary" seemed to have a different meaning. A "temporary" concrete brick wall built years ago around the Ggantija Temples was still there, he noted.

"How could such a construction be put up, even if temporarily, in a world heritage scheduled area? Who is giving out such permits, if any, and to whom?" Mr Galea asked.

When contacted, a spokesman for the Malta Environment and Planning Authority said the structure is covered by a DNO, or development notification order, which is a permit issued for temporary structures.

In such cases, the applicant does not have to indicate to Mepa the purpose for which the temporary structure will be used. However, the tent cannot be left standing for more than six months in any one year. In fact, the permit issued to the applicant, with an address at the Cittadella itself, covers the period April 27 to May 18, the spokesman said.