Ramblers outraged at Dwejra structure

The Ramblers Association has revoked the stand of tolerance it had taken on the sanctioning of boathouses in Dwejra after it learnt that money collected as fines from the controversial mass sanctioning is contributing to further environmental plunder of the landscape "in form of a cafeteria".

The association said it had reluctantly taken a position of tolerance earlier this year when the benefits to the environment of the entire Dwejra Park plan appeared to outweigh the disadvantage of accepting the illegal structures.

The association has now declared itself against all sanctioning of illegal constructions outside the development zone and called for their immediate removal by direct action as prescribed on paper by Mepa.

Alex Vella, secretary of the association, said irregularities should never be considered for sanctioning as more irregularities are provoked. Dwejra has been proposed as a candidate for Unseco World Heritage Site and is already part of the Natura 2000 network of European natural heritage, but in truth the shacks and the concrete structure make a mockery of a nature site, Mr Vella said.

Mepa last night reacted to the Ramblers' statement, saying it was not true that fines collected from the sanctioning of the boathouses are being used for the construction of a cafeteria.

Earlier this week Mepa stopped the construction of the structure, an Interpretative Centre, and is now investigating the relationship between the original plans and the current structure.

Mepa recently sanctioned a number of existing boathouses in the area as part of an integrated Heritage Park Action Plan.

Comments

Wilfred Camilleri (on 28/3/08)

Until MEPA and the government get serious about disallowing illegal structures nothing will change. There should be no consideration given to the retention of illegal structures, whether they are in the process of going up or if structures have been in place for some time. What needs to happen is for MEPA and the government to give the owners of illegal structures a predetermined number of months to tear the structures down and dispose of the construction materials. If after that period any structures are still in place then the government should tear them down and charge the owners for the labour cost and the cost of disposing of the materials along with a hefty fine. Then people will get the message that illegal structures and buildings will not be tolerated.