Balzan villa area risks losing its character

My family and I have been living in an area of Balzan for more than 30 years. This area was zoned as a villa area in 1966.

In our vicinity, between St Gabriel Street, St Francis Street and Qarcilla Street, there is a plot of land which was erroneously zoned in the 2002 local plan as a terraced-house area.

A developer submitted an application for a totally unsuitable development of 15 apartments (three storeys) plus a semi-basement and a penthouse.

Considering that Qarcilla Street is five courses lower than the development, this means that the resulting five-storey building will have a negative impact on the residences, which include bungalows.

This massive development will completely spoil the character of our beautiful neighbourhood as a semi-detached villa area. No wonder so many objections have been submitted not only to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority but also to the Prime Minister.

After investigating, Mepa's auditor admitted that it had made a zoning mistake by colouring this unbuilt spot brown, meaning a terraced-house area, instead of grey (villa-zoning area). At the last Mepa meeting, the Development Control Commission referred the letter to a higher Mepa board.

I am hoping that Mepa will rectify its zoning mistake and thus prevent our neighbourhood from being ruined.

It would be a considerable blow to those of us who have been living in this area for a long time and, also, it is highly unfair to suffer the consequences. We are not against a new development as long as it is in keeping with the character of this villa area.

Why is Mepa still processing this application instead of rejecting it?