Call to protect Sliema’s ‘green lung’

Several NGOs have called on the authorities to schedule Villa Bonici estate’s gardens to protect Sliema’s only green lung from future “inappropriate” development.

A proposal has been submitted to convert the property into a home for the elderly.

The Sliema Residents Association, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA), Nature Trust and BirdLife Malta yesterday welcomed the developers’ intention to respect the heritage value of Villa Bonici.

They also acknowledged that the proposed conversion met an important social need as it would alleviate the shortage of sheltered accommodation for senior citizens.

“The public has already lost so much by way of natural and built heritage. The government should not miss this unique opportunity to buy the last remaining large green space in the Sliema/Gżira area, and preserve it as a nature park, as it is an important habitat to a wide range of biodiversity,” said the residents’ association in a statement on behalf of the NGOs.

Half of the estate’s gardens were scheduled last year after intense lobbying by the association and FAA, due to their important heritage value. The gardens include several unique features such as a baroque gate, an ornamental gothic style tower, an early open-air cinema and large wells.

According to the NGOs, the entire green area also acts as the only green lung for Sliema, which has been heavily built-up over the years and which already suffers from high rates of pollution.

They said that, although the authorities had scheduled part of the garden for its heritage features, they were failing to protect it and had ignored the environmental, architectural heritage and eco­system benefits provided by the rest of the green space.

They added that four planning applications proposing to develop the Forestals block and adjacent low-lying buildings up to Sacro Cuor Street into apartment blocks over 10 storeys high at The Strand would leave a lasting negative impact on Villa Bonici.