Gozo encroaching structure still stands
A structure encroaching the Għajnsielem belvedere will be allowed to remain in place due to the risk of destabilising the belvedere, an NGO said yesterday.
Last year, Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar presented the case to the Lands Department on behalf of Għajnsielem residents, protesting against the encroachment on the local belvedere from the Grand Hotel extension.
The authorities had initially denied that the developers had occupied public property, but an independent expert confirmed there had been encroachment. The Lands Department had taken legal action against the developer responsible but demolition of the offending structure is not being considered, the heritage pressure group explained in a statement. Instead, the encroachment will be subject to financial compensation, FAA said.
“It is hoped that adequate compensation will be set at today’s market prices, together with a fine for abusive usurpation of a public space,” FAA said.
It also condemned the hotel’s demolition of a ramp which allowed disabled people to enjoy this public space, and called on the National Commission for Persons with Disability to take action.
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Stephen Mifsud
Jan 30th 2011, 17:02
Some questions please:
Where are the authorities in this case?
Why had they been repeatedly contacted and only taken action once an NGO brought forward an external expert testimony?
Why has MEPA, who is paid by the taxpayer to protect citizen's interest, not taken any action to date?
Who is the MP architect involved?
A similar case recently resulted in the resignation of a political party secretary resigning. Will this case have a similar positive outcome?
Unless we see justice being done, the man in the street has no choice but reach one conclusion - Il -huta min rasha tinten!
James A. Tyrrell
Jan 30th 2011, 16:20
So on the one hand a Gozitan quarry owner is fined €100,000 and ordered to return the sites back to their original state within three months. Something, which I think everyone agrees, is impossible. Yet in this case the illegal development encroaching on the belvedere in Ghajnsielem is being allowed to stay because of the risk of destabilising the belvedere itself. This gives the impression that someone is being protected in this case. Question is who is doing the protection and why? The excuse about destabilising the belvedere is just that, an excuse and a very lame one at that. It is common today for entire buildings to be underpinned in order to provide strengthening and stabilizing of the foundation so I fail to see why the same process cannot be applied in this case to stabilise the belvedere before removing the offending structure. Am I missing something here?
W Spencer
Jan 30th 2011, 18:22
Am sure its another case of " not what you know but who you know ".
Are construction sites, buildings, etc, not inspected before, during, and after construction, to ensure that Contractors abide by H&S, Building Regulations, Permits, etc, ?
Paul Borg
Jan 30th 2011, 20:51
@ W Spencer: Since the architect is a Member of Parliament, it is a case of who you know for sure!
If even the architect of the Lands Department claimed the building was all legal, you think building inspectors, are going to stick their necks out against these people, or more likely stick their hands out for for a backhander?
As for H&S, its not Health and Safety in Malta and Gozo but Haste and Speculation!
Christian Sciberras
Jan 30th 2011, 16:19
So let me get the reasoning straight;
the structure will remain because builders are incompetent and may stabilize the belvedere ??
Can't they just get competent personnel? We all know mainland Malta has top-notch architects and workers, why not make use of their skills?