Owners request revocation of scheduling of land at Villa Bologna

The owners of a parcel of land forming part of Villa Bologna, in Attard, yesterday filed an appeal with the Planning Appeals Board requesting the revocation of a decision through which their land has been scheduled.

The Bonnici Mallia family, who own the land in question, also filed a judicial letter against the De Trafford family who are occupying the said parcel of land by title of temporary utile dominium for the next 40 years. The De Traffords own parts of the villa's lands but not the Bonnici Mallia's portion.

The land owners are claiming that the De Traffords misrepresented themselves when they claimed to be the owners of their portion of property and applied for the scheduling of Villa Bologna, including the land they did not own.

On July 18, Mepa upheld the application and scheduled the villa, including the Bonnici Mallias' land, as a Grade 1 national monument.

Yesterday, the Bonnici Mallias appealed Mepa's decision over their land on several grounds, arguing that they were not consulted or notified regarding its scheduling and, therefore, Mepa's decision was to be declared null.

Apart from that, the De Traffords, who had voluntarily requested the scheduling of the villa, were not entitled to apply for the scheduling of the part of the land that did not belong to them. The Bonnici Mallias asked Mepa to revoke the scheduling of their portion of land.

In the judicial letter filed yesterday in the First Hall of the Civil Court, the Bonnici Mallias called on the De Traffords to take the necessary steps so that their land would no longer be scheduled as this was prejudicial to their rights over their property.

They held the De Traffords liable in damages and argued that, should the De Traffords not comply, they would take action to take back the land from them before the 40 years elapsed.

Lawyer Stefano Filletti represented the Bonnici Mallias.