St Paul's Bay residents resist development proposal

Residents of the Triq it-Tonn area, in St Paul's Bay, yesterday protested against a proposed development on a scheduled natural heritage site of ecological interest, which includes archaeological features.

The site is situated above coastal cliffs opposite Triq it-Tonn.

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) has refused the development permit but an appeal has been filed by the developer.

The developer had applied to build two basement levels to be used for car parking and 15 overlying apartments on eight floors with four floors and a penthouse from the upper road.

Resident Edmond Bartolo told journalists that after the original application had been refused and an appeal rejected, the developer applied again, the application was again refused and an appeal has now been filed.

The site, he said, included the Tabibu Dejma tower, which served as a watchtower for more than 200 years until the Wignacourt Tower was built. The site also included pre-historic cart ruts.

Moreover, the site enjoyed level two scheduling and should be protected in conformity with Mepa regulations, the resident added.

Mayor Paul Bugeja said Mepa had declined a joint Malta Transport Authority-local council application for the development of the road because part of it infringed on the scheduled area. The plans had to be amended before an approval was granted.

Astrid Vella, from the environmental organisation Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar, said the group maintained that applications outside development zones should not be considered, especially after the rationalisation exercise carried out by the government which was justified as having closed development boundaries.

By accepting to consider such applications, she said, development outside development zones was encouraged and the public's money was wasted.

Such development was especially outrageous in areas of historical and natural scheduling as was the case in this area, Ms Vella added.