Cynthia Busuttil
Baħrija residents angered by plans to build on public space
Angry residents of the tiny village of Baħrija are appealing to the planning authority to reject a proposed development, following promises that the area would remain a public open space.
A large area in front of the Baħrija church has been earmarked for a three-floor residential development, although the application has still to be approved.
But the proposal has irked the residents, who have signed a petition not to build up the area. Some 100 signatures have already been collected.
"I have been living here for 18 years with the understanding that this area would be transformed into a garden," one resident said.
Others, who gathered in front of the church yesterday, agreed. One even said that the contract for his home includes a clause stating that the area should remain a public open area.
Another said that, some five years ago, residents had agreed to plant a tree for every child born in Baħrija. The trees have, however, been removed, the residents said.
The North West Local Plan published in June 2001 earmarked the area as a public open space. However, this was turned into a residential development area in the controversial 2006 local plan changes, something which the residents insisted they were not informed about, let alone consulted on.
The residents said some years ago that the local council had agreed to transform the area into a playing field but this never happened since the land was privately owned. Attempts to contact the Rabat mayor were in vain.
The petition has received the backing of Nationalist MEP candidate Alan Deidun, who believes that the area should remain undeveloped. He even insisted that an autonomous board should be set up to grant funds to be used for legal and technical purposes by residents with a genuine objection to developments.
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Michael Neville Cassar
Mar 22nd 2009, 09:46
These areas should be left alone I remember how beautiful Mellieha was now it is a monster of buildings all the hill top looks horrible.
L..Galea
Mar 21st 2009, 23:29
J Farrugia
Mhuux meta art tkun green area u jkollok imnizzel fil-kuntratt li quddiemha ma jistax jinbena.
Ara Whitehalle Mansions ma hallewhomx jibnu iktar milli kienu ghax fil-kuntratt originali kellhom li ma jistghux jibnu iktar minn dak l-gholi biex ma jghattux il-veduta.
Ghalfejn qed tkompli tinqered are biex ninbu kaxxi tas-sulfarini tal-konkos meta ghandna eluf kbar ta' djar u appartamenti battala?
John M. Grima
Mar 21st 2009, 22:14
HANDS OFF BAHRIJA.
For God's sake. Leave a little paradise in Malta and Gozo. Il-Kampania, ta' Bahrija is unique. I still remember people there coocking il- minestra, consisting of freshly picked vegitables, or a fish freshly cought by some fisherman from the other side of, THE ROCK, on the old stone fire place in a corner of the yard. Or drinking from the HOFRA, (which the Government (?), quicky filles in and confiscated the water)
Bahrija is still virgin. Please leave the residents that live there, some of whom, (like the Giorgmaina, have lived there in a razett built of local stones, live and enjoy what's left of paradise in Malta.
Joseph E Briffa
Mar 21st 2009, 21:54
Can't we stop this development all over the place? Haven't we ruined enough villages and hamlets? Are we to continue on this trend till kingdom come? When shall we say enough is enough and stop destroying the whole of Malta and Gozo? Haven't we produced enough ugly concrete half-finished structures? What's the need for new structures when we have some 50 000 vacant dwellings alot of which can be salvaged and turned into habitable houses thereby curbing further encroachment on what's left of green areas? These islands need more trees and greenery and not more horrible unfinished concrete structures.
Noel Cutajar
Mar 21st 2009, 21:01
@Antoine Borg - please do not insult our intelligence...if you want to speak and back these unfortunate residents, you should have done so in 2006!!
Chris Ebejer
Mar 21st 2009, 20:33
BLA DUBJU TA XEJN, DIK LI 40 SENA ILU KIENET GENNA TA' GZIRA, IRNEXXIELNA NGHAMLU MANDRA SHIHA 40 SENA TA' INDIPENDENZA!
ZBRUFFAJNA BINI ORRIBBLI FUQ WIDIEN, NIGGISNA L- ARJA, DARDARNA L-ILMA, QRIDNA L-EKOSISTEMI , ZVERGNAJNA L-IRHULA TIPICI.,KISSIRNA L- PATRIMONJU..........
............POSSIBBLI GHADNA MA GBAJNIEX??!! IMMA POSSIBLI ??!!
a attard
Mar 21st 2009, 18:40
@Sur Farrugia
Malta ma tiflahx aktar bini fuq art vergni, punto basta. Allura nofs il popolazjoni (li tghix go postijiet mahnuqha madwar il portijiet missa tinfirex u tibni fejn hemm il ftuh halli jkollhom arja ahjar ghax kulhadd ghandu dritt ghal arja nadifa nahseb....(halli nigu aktar ottu milli qghedin!) hemm zoni li jistgha jsir aktar bini fijhom billi jitwaqqa il qadim u jitlgha gdid u hemm zoni ohra li il karatru tal ambjent rurali irrid jigi rispetat u mhux abbuzat. Dan ta l-ahhar meta jghara il firxa ta bini go zoni li kienu rurali go Malta zgur li qghed issir minghajr rispett ghal lokal. Qhed noqorbu biex dan il pajjiz issir stat belt u addijo l-arja u mhux arja.
John Sammut
Mar 21st 2009, 17:31
Sur Farrugia nahseb li ma fhimtx l-argument sewwa. Il punt mhux li min ilu 18 il sena ma jridx bini quddiemu, imma hemm min ilu 18 il sena imwieghed illi din il bicca art se tkun gnien pubbliku.
J Farrugia
Mar 21st 2009, 16:49
waqt li naqbel hafna mar-residenti fortunati tal-Bahrija li jkollhom arja iktar milli ghandhom, ma nista qatt naccetta stqarrijiet li ghax bniedem ilu jghix 18 il sena ma jridx bini quddiemu. Dan mhuxc argument u l-inqas huwa accettabbli. Bhal ma kellu kull dritt HU li jibni 18 il sena ilu, haddiehor ukoll ghandhu dritt jibni inkella nkunu cittadini tat-tieni u l-ahhar klassi. Jien ukoll ilni boqghod f'post kwiet u issa gew jibnewli hames sulari warajjha, ghattewli x-xemx li dejjem kelli u hallewni lampa stampa. U Hadd ma [pprotesta ghalija. u l-MEPA harget il-permessi, ghax SKOND il-LIGI. Jigifieri l-argument tal-bharin, ma jgregix. Jekk il-post huwa f'area fejn l-izvilupp huwa accettabbli u awtorizzat dan ser jinghata permess, anke kontra x-xewqa ta' min ilu 18 il sena jgawdi wahdu. Jekk mhemmx permessi, allura hadd m'ghandhu jibni illegalment. U mhuxminhabba l-egoizmu ta' xi whud, jinzamm il;-permessi bhalma gara fil0-kaz tal-katidral ta' San Gwann.
Mario Cardona
Mar 21st 2009, 14:45
M'hemm l-ebda dubju li l-kwalita' tal-hajja tar-residenti fi rhula rurali zghar bhall-Bahrija tiddependi wkoll mill-ispazji miftuha. Minn qalbi nawgura lir-residenti tal-Bahrija li FLIMKIEN jirnexxielhom jikkonvincu lill-awtoritajiet li r-rahal taghhom jista' jkun rahal sabih jekk ikollu spazji sbieh aktar milli gageg tal-fniek biex fihom indeffsu n-nies.
a attard
Mar 21st 2009, 14:24
Oh dear dear, with Manikata Zebbieh Xemxija Mgarr and Mellieha some have the urge to turn this once distant hamlet immersed in one of the most beautiful land/sea scapes in the Maltese islands into another fully fledged town? Do the planning authorities truly believe we still have land to spare to go under new construction? Isn’t it enough to bear the scar of that horrendous building complex in an other wise beautiful Madliena Valley amoungst so many other? WHEN are these kind of developments going to stop once and for all?
Antoine Borg
Mar 21st 2009, 11:53
Bahrija Residents and all fellow Rabat people have my full backing and support in the objection to this development. Let's all work for the preservation of the jewel we are all proud of.....Antoine Borg PN Candidate for Rabal LC Elections
Ray Sultana
Mar 21st 2009, 10:43
Just what we need... more empty box-shaped apartments in once-rural areas and the loss of more open spaces for the benefit of just a few speculators and to the detriment of the population!
It is disgusting to see how we have allowed rural villages like Bahrija, Burmarrad and Manikata to be destroyed by buildings that are completely alien to the rural character of these areas.
I appeal to Mepa to safeguard what is left of the character of these villages.
Mike Magri
Mar 21st 2009, 10:42
TO.. ALL.. CONCERNED...
LEAVE THAT SPACE OPEN FOR ALL THE '..B-A-H-R-I-N..'
HANDS..... O..F..F..F..F..
L..Galea
Mar 21st 2009, 10:17
Where is Mr Pair of String Hands who took MEPA under his control?