NGOs welcome halt to Bahrija development
Four environment NGOs - Ramblers, Flimkien ghal-Ambjent Ahjar, NatureTrust and MOAM, have welcomed the news that controversial development at Bahrija valley has been halted as investigations into the granting of the controversial permit take their course.
Reacting to remarks by PN president Victor Scerri, who owns the Bahrija site, the NGOs said they wanted to clarify that at no time was any reference made to the permit being issued after the election. It was other permits that were mentioned as being granted recently, referring to areas Outside Development Zone such as Wied il-Ghasel.
"The NGOs have no interest in attacking any individual but choose rather to focus on the Development Control Commission which approves permits recommended for refusal by the Case Officer. The NGOs will also continue to challenge architects who specialise in obtaining dubious permits, regardless of which side they sit in Parliament."
FAA, Ramblers and Nature Trust said they were not against agricultural, infrastructural or other bona-fide development in the countryside which respected planned policy and environmental constraints as well as honouring European and international obligations.
The trusted that a thorough investigation would be carried out by the MEPA Auditor and called on MEPA to handle this matter speedily so that justice would be done to all parties.
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D Camilleri
Jun 21st 2009, 20:45
I doubt 99% of those protesting have built on a pristine valley floor, in an ODZ, an area of ecological importance after case officers have time and time again, recomended for refusal.
But maybe 99% are not prominent political figures with political figures for their architects
just like the woman who wanted to open a window, recomended for approval but still refused by MEPA Board
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BTW I plead with all maltese citizens to remember this insult to our intelligence
James A. Tyrrell
Jun 20th 2009, 22:19
@Mike Micallef. Personally Mike I think this is a good idea but it would never work. I'm sure like me Mike you have seen tool sheds scattered throughout the countryside, which were build generations ago. I know of instances where people have applied to build new tool sheds or pump rooms and I have seen the finished product. One in particular comes to mind because it became a single storey holiday home with an 8-foot wall all around it, BBQ area and a statue of the Madonna!
John Zahra
Jun 20th 2009, 20:48
Everyone knows that once a derilct building like this was going to be taken down, any owner of that site has the right for a slight (20-30% increase) of that demolished footprint to be rebuilt, stronger and as sensitive as it was to the area.
Now because Mr. Scerri is a political figure, everyone is jumping on the bandwagon and declaring their disguest as they try to make the impression whiter than thou!
I believe 99% of those protesting, have done harm both environmentally AND economically in some capacity to these islands. But that, is for another day!
Disgusting!
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BTW, in the end, Mr Scerri will have his farmhouse and the cats will go crying somewhere else for their 5-mins of fame.
Joseph Attard
Jun 20th 2009, 20:18
I have recently had the rare occasion of sitting through a DCC Board sitting at MEPA from 9 to nearly 12.30. If other Boards tackle cases the same way, then I dont wonder that we have such a situation. As the saying goes....rotten..fish smells from the head.
I stood there for over three hours and visualised every move, the way an architect goes round DCC Boards, as all are in action on the same day, the way one door leads to the other, the way that the Board itself has no privacy, and God forbid if someone decided to throw a punch.....a policeman sat idly in a corner......snoozing off to sleep.....people walked in and out, its amazing........and no wonder the results..and oh.....i forgot...some architects are definitely bosom buddies of those sitting on the BOard......whilst some individuals on the Board.....amazing you know.....know which land belongs to who on a whole island!
MEPA Reform, my foot, can anyone tell me when the members of a DCC Board are changed.....some sitting on this Board were well over retirement age....... do they sit there for nothing ...or is the remuneration so high that temptation wont get to them!
D Camilleri
Jun 20th 2009, 19:07
Mepa stinks
ODZ is ODZ, hu vera prim ?
jiksu malta bil concrete iridu dawn in-nies,
il-partiti ha jghidulna min itihom id-donations jew biex jiddecidu fuq il pagamenti li ha jihdu mit taxxi taghna, tajbin biss ?
s schembri
Jun 20th 2009, 18:43
I think it is about time that someone explains to MEPA what ODZ means.
charles zammit
Jun 20th 2009, 17:42
a scapegoat will be found for sure, but the real culprits will keep on raping the maltese countryside.
fred mallia
Jun 20th 2009, 17:11
the culprit must be obliged to repair and make the valley as originally was before works began. mepa directors must be expelled immediately
Mike Micallef
Jun 20th 2009, 15:39
Seeing as everybody has expressed an opinion on this, I might as well put in my two pennies' worth. The fairest and most just solution on ALL concerned is that the permit is amended to allow only building of exactly what was there previously - NO MORE! The footprint and also the spatial occupation of what was already there but crumbling, would be rebuilt in the same style but strong.
any reactions to this suggestion? rational ones only please, not that I have the right to dictate the rationality or otherwise, as we all have the right to be as irrational as we please, but just expressing a preference.
James A. Tyrrell
Jun 20th 2009, 14:40
The problem as I see it here is that the very people who have allowed this situation to reach the stage it has at present, Mepa are the ones who are having to investigate it. Isn't this a case of the police policing the police?
jesmond zammit
Jun 20th 2009, 14:38
u wara?
jekk meta tispicca l inkjesta ma jinstab hadd hati , bhal ma nemmen li se jigri, xorta ha jitkompla l bini?
l unika triq tal irgulija hi li hemm ma jsir l ebda zvilupp.
niskanta kif l ngo's hargu kuntenti li GHALISSA twaqqaf il bini. il bini f dak il post irid jieqaf ghal dejjem u l hsara enormi li saret trid tithallas multa enormi mis sid l art, ghax jien jekk narmi sigarett fl art nehel multa ,ahseb u ara hofra bhal dik fit tafal. nappella ghal responsabilta
C calleja
Jun 20th 2009, 14:36
Politicians have to lead by example. Punto e basta