UPDATED: Ramla l-Hamra development at Planning Appeals' Board
(Adds MEPA reaction, MLP comment and AD correction)
Alternattiva Demokratika has urged MEPA to turn down an appeal lodged by the developers who are hoping to build villas overlooking Ramla l-Hamra, which is scheduled for public hearing tomorrow.
During a visit and a press conference on the site where development is being proposed, Arnold Cassola, Alternattiva Demokratika chairman, said the Maltese government had assured the European Commission that the project had been rejected.
"It should therefore stick to this promise".
Victor Galea, AD secretary general and spokesman for Gozo, said that if the Maltese government really cared about Gozo as an eco-island it certainly could not even think of developing the area for tourist purposes and allowing the building of villas and swimming pools near Ramla l-Hamra.
In a reaction MEPA said the application for the re-development of the former Ulysses Lodge in Ramla l-Hamra will not appear before the MEPA Board but before the Planning Appeals Board, which is completely autonomous and independent of the Authority.
"Consequently Mepa cannot turn down any such appeal as urged by Alternattiva Demokratika but is defending its own decision before this independent board."
In a statement issued in the evening AD said it had no problem admitting it had been mistaken in saying the project was to be considered by Mepa since it was to be decided by the Planning Appeals Board. Its arguments, it said, remained valid.
The Labour Party in the afternoon called on the government to declare its position on the project again now that a final decision had to be taken on the project by the board of appeal.
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In Discussion
17 Comments
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James A. Tyrrell
Nov 27th 2008, 20:32
I agree 100% with what Victor Galea, AD secretary general and spokesman for Gozo, says. I am also sick and tired of tourists like myself being used as an excuse to destroy the environment of this beautiful island. The last thing Gozo needs is more apartments. The island is full of empty apartments and farmhouses so why are they not being renovated?
Gonzi promised to reform Mepa if he was re-elected so it's time he got off his backside and did something. The most obvious change, which needs to happen is that ODZ means exactly what it, says ODZ. It does not mean that you put in an application anyway and hopefully some friend of a friend on a Mepa board will make sure it gets pushed through.
The way it appears to me is that in Malta and therefore also in Gozo you can get away with anything so long as you have enough money, and of course are prepared to part with some of it.
Albert Gauci Cunningham
Nov 27th 2008, 18:52
AAh yes the government is independent of MEPA!!! But if I remember correctly the impression clearly given by Dr.Lawrence Gonzi in the last election was that MEPA has become far too powerful and has become a government in a government............Dr.Gonzi said that MEPA needs to be "controlled" in a way that it serves the purpose it has been set up for!!
Now I have no doubt that the PM will not go back on his word and keep MEPA in check so that harmful developments like these are not accepted!!
If the Appeals Board accepts this development then we will have thrown this most beautiful jewel to the dogs under the guise of the board's "independence"!! Then when we grow old we could proudly tell our children how we allowed a rape of this magnitude go on because we were too afraid of challenging the "independence" of a group of "professuri ta l-Ambjent"!!
s.bugeja
Nov 27th 2008, 17:59
Developers will not stop until their wish comes true and that is to destroy the beauty of ramla. who cares as long as they make a pretty penny?
Jamie Chetcuti
Nov 27th 2008, 17:58
Typical of the MLP. Authorities were created to be away from the influence of the Government and hopefully let it run independantly. Why does the MLP want the Government to state its position on the project? The Government should let the experts do their job and not interfere.
Will this culture of interefance by MLP stop once and for all. And they are still in Opposition !!
Muscat. Pat
Nov 27th 2008, 17:04
Why are you surprised of this U TURN? You forgot that the election was held 7 months ago and that in 5 years time you will forget, or rather Gonzi will make you forget, of the RAPE of Ramla il-Hamra? Now, we will hear the members of the QUANGOES and others who are enjoying the GOOD LIFE paid from our taxes, that this is called progress!!! Yes building on Ramla to accomodate a"few good men" is called progress!
c galea
Nov 27th 2008, 16:47
@ J farrugia
No one in these blogs has mentioned political parties.
From what you are saying you definitely have not seen the plans for these monsters. And if you love your country you would not be making such comments because everyone knows how much power the speculators have.
So do you disagree with what is said in the media that Mepa is strong with the weak and weak with the strong.? Because if you do you must be living somewhere else!
If you took your blue glasses off you would see what is going on around you. And I am not talking politics.
A. Grech
Nov 27th 2008, 16:13
Many are exclaiming UNBELIEVABLE. I say it is very normal to carry on ruining what is left to ruin in Gozo. Come to Xewkija, exactly on the site where the Enemalta is building its monstrous Head Office. Here were found more than 4 sites that seem to be of archaeological importance and a great deal of terracotta pieces. They consist of what seems to be underground dwellings, hand made in rocks. One is already a total loss because it had to make way for a passage. Another( part of its roof was smashed by a bulldozer) after being cleared from debris was isolated leaving only about two feet of the original rock almost all around it. It seems also that a concrete structure is going to be built over it. But who cares? Not the Xewkija Local Council… they are too busy looking for remains which probably do not exist at Mgarr ix-Xini. Neither the Gozo Ministry nor Wirt Ghawdex. And that is what makes it all NORMAL.
J Farrugia
Nov 27th 2008, 15:52
Well from what we are reading i have the urge to tell MEPA to stop issuing permits because these citizens do not want other Maltese citizens to built anything anywhere, as long as the Nationalist party is in power. Well MEPA, go on, do as they say.. do not issue any more permits for any projects under the Nationalists. You will never issue any other permits because you will be defunct, by a new labour party. It will be the Labour Minister of Works who will issue all these permits, just like the times of Lorry Sant..
Kirill Micallef Stafrace
Nov 27th 2008, 13:20
I just do not see what the fuss is all about-so Malta will become one big blob of concrete. When this occurs (within a few years considering the poorly masked attitude of the powers that be towards the environment) money will be made by applying for conversion to green areas and so these will once again be in vogue and worth votes. We just have to be patient and await the concrete termination of this predicament.
J. Borg
Nov 27th 2008, 11:36
@ Mark Bonello
Yes it is UNBELIEVABLE!
After all that we have seen over the years, you still believe that the Appeals Board, MEPA and Govt. are effectively distinct.....pull the other one!
No worries, Simon Busuttil is assuming full personal responsibility that nothing will happen at Ramla - let's see how vehement he will be now...
J.Borg
Nov 27th 2008, 11:31
So the government is going to build a new road in Ghadira, and as explained it is going this to save the bay from erosion, apart from losing EU funds. Hope that the government will make assurances that no developments will start erupting afterwards. Let's not forget that we are MALTESE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And hope that finally MEPA will throw this appeal in the rubbish bin so that Ramla Hamra is saved.....
C Cassar
Nov 27th 2008, 11:03
MEPA as prosecutor? Ha ha. Remember how strenuously they defended this project in the days when it still seemed to have the blessing of politicians? The truth is the only thing that will stop this project going ahead is politicians' fear of the backlash by voters who are sick of seeing their country ravaged by speculators.
George Grech
Nov 27th 2008, 10:52
Mark Bonjello stop going round in circles - the appeals board is part of the planning process under the planning act or whatever....the FACT is that Ramla l-Hamra is under threat again...
Mark Bonello
Nov 27th 2008, 10:43
Unbelievable!
We are ending 2008 and AD still do not appear to know that The Appeals Board has nothing to do with MEPA.............In fact MEPA will be the prosecuting council in this case .
d. borg
Nov 27th 2008, 10:37
I hope MEPA refuses this project outright. Please do not spoil the last few beautiful landscapes that we have.
c galea
Nov 27th 2008, 10:18
wasn't the seven thousand signatures collected in one week enough of a sign to MEPA that people do not want this project to go ahead.
The ramla , ta cenc and hondoq projects go TOTALLY against the eco gozo concept.
What is the reason why these mega projects are not rejected? One wonders!!
Eugene Galea
Nov 27th 2008, 10:04
What a surprise?