Ramla development permit appeal turned down
Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) and the Gozitan NGO Save Ramla have welcomed a decision by the Mepa Appeals Tribunal turning down an appeal by a developer who sought to develop villas and apartments along one side of the valley overlooking Ramla Bay in Gozo.
The developer had sought a permit for a complex of 23 villas with pools ont he site of the old Ulysses Lodge.
In a statement, the NGOs recalled how the project had originally been granted a permit by Mepa, but following a public outcry, the authority revoked the permit as the developers had failed to declare that their site included a parcel of public land.
“The refusal of this appeal is of huge significance, as reinstating the permit would have opened the whole Ramla hillside to development," the NGOs said.
“Save Ramla, FAA and other environment NGOs were committed to ensuring that the most iconic unspoilt beach on the Maltese islands remains unbuilt due to the existence of archaeological remains and also because parts of Ramla l-Ħamra make up a Natura 2,000 site because of the presence of endangered plants growing on the unique sand dunes at Ramla.”
The NGOs said they were renewing their appeal for public donations to help them meet the expenses they had incurred in this campaign.
A direct debit donation can be made at http://www.faa.org.mt/donate Bank of Valletta account no: 400-1851-6481 or HSBC Bank Malta account no: 061-253-217-050 or by credit card on https://faa.trolleymania.com/search-results?k=Ramla .
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c.t. busuttil
Jul 29th 2011, 12:22
Such good news. Some space left for the general public to enjoy. Well done NGOs & MEPA.
Mr Anthony Pace Gouder
Jul 29th 2011, 08:59
Hope this is not MEPA's smokescreen to issue a permit at Hondoq !
Mr John Azzopoardi
Jul 29th 2011, 05:17
What would be great now if someone decides to tear down that ugly structure that sits atop on xaghra's side as it's now dipilated and of no use to anyone. Then each side of Ramla Bay will have been returned to it's former beauty.
Mr Lawrence Camilleri
Jul 29th 2011, 14:57
Fully agree
Marcus Vella Bardon
Jul 28th 2011, 23:39
excellent mepa ,now maybe the government should pass some legislation protecting such a place from any future attempts such that such applications aren't ever made again ,thus saving mepa time and money. and more importantly saving the little bit of unspoilt environment left in malta and/or gozo.
Tony Marsh
Jul 28th 2011, 23:02
Great news. But other cases still to be tackled, not least of all the proposed "development" at Hal Farh. What an eye-sore !!
roberto bordino
Jul 28th 2011, 22:06
FANTASTIC NEWS
Mark Cams
Jul 28th 2011, 21:45
Prosit well done. Now please save Hondoq bay- please please
Mr david debattista
Jul 28th 2011, 20:46
Well done MEPA. You just saved what little we have which is so beautiful, we must do all we can to save Hondoq too. Ramla is one of the most beautiful bays we have, and we all know we don'tt have that much. Let's save what little is left. Hands off Ramla, Hands off Hondoq, hands of the environment. We have very little considering our size and population. WE ALL KNOW IT.
Alison Natalie Keeler
Jul 28th 2011, 20:39
Good news.
Really good news.
Development permission is known to be contagious - with the existence of the first building argued as justification for its successors. And before you know it, what was an attractive area is decimated.
Gozo is too tiny to take any further losses, especially for the sake of commercial benefit.
Ms Lesley Kreupl
Jul 28th 2011, 20:01
Fantastic news! Many thanks to all the NGO's involved and their dedicated and hard-working members!
Thanks too, to those at MEPA who have finally seen the light.
Let's hope this will send a message to the ruthless developers and estate agents who want to develop Hondoq.
For those readers who think such projects create jobs - take a look at Fort Chambray!
Melvin Tonna
Jul 28th 2011, 19:27
Ohh Thanks God! After reading so many articles on this website this week, I almost lost the will to live. All better now!
Astrid Vella
Jul 28th 2011, 19:12
FAA urges all those who are interested in the preservation of Malta’s heritage and environment to be encouraged by this positive outcome and to participate in this effort by enrolling as a member of FAA on http://www.faa.org.mt/become_a_member as such support would further strengthen the drive to save Malta’s heritage, environment and quality of life.
.
Ms C Galea
Jul 28th 2011, 19:36
Certainly Astrid I am a member .You deserve a big PROSIT for saving this monster to happen,
Can you tell us what is happening in regards the other ugly application of Hondoq ir Rummien please
Mr leo attard
Jul 28th 2011, 20:49
Prosit Astrid! Persistence prevails .... thank you, the rAMBLER'S aSS, SOS Hondoq and all the bloggers who have fought and are still fighting to preserve our natural heritage..... great news!
Peppi Micallef
Jul 28th 2011, 22:35
Thanks Ms.Vella
Mr J. Bonnici
Jul 28th 2011, 18:53
If it weren't for Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Ramblers, Nature Trust and a few other NGOs this land would have been destroyed long ago.
How can we ever thank them?
Mr Lawrence Camilleri
Jul 28th 2011, 20:53
Please add NGO Save Ramla whose members all from Xaghra were in the forefront of the battle and, with the assistance and continued support of FAA, fought tooth and nail, spent days and nights on the subject and forked out thousands of euros. This in no way to belittle the great efforts of other NGO's and the public outcry from all the four corners of the world against the application.
Clara Cilia
Jul 28th 2011, 18:49
a well taken decision by Mepa!
D. Farrugia
Jul 28th 2011, 18:45
Excellent news!! Another part of the island that has been spared. Well done.
Mr James Tyrrell
Jul 28th 2011, 18:43
This is very good news for Ramla Bay and a big very well done to all the NGO's and members of the public who fought for this outcome. It's very refreshing when MEPA get it right as they have done here. Let us hope that they also get it right when any talk of a marina at Hondoq raises its ugly head again.
Lawrence Attard
Jul 28th 2011, 18:30
Great news, good decision MEPA.
Mr joseph saliba
Jul 28th 2011, 17:29
Why not collect donations for buying the land, clear the area from the lodge ruins and conserve it for posterity.
Carmel Cilia
Jul 28th 2011, 18:28
Yes I quite agree the 4 million euros to remove the triton fountain from its prominent place could be used for such a healthy scheme.
However I am sure the most Hon minister involved does not agree. Who says we are a democracy.
Mr joseph saliba
Jul 28th 2011, 19:27
Yes Mr Cilia that is another commendable idea.
Mr John J Borg
Jul 28th 2011, 19:29
u mhux hekk Sur Saliba, inti mort xi darda il Ulysses Lodge???? taf kemm hi kbira ???? Joqghodu fiha 23 villa bil pool!!!! kif tahseb li nistghu nixtruwa ...bid donations jew!
Mr joseph saliba
Jul 28th 2011, 19:43
Jista jixtiha l-gvern jew xi ndividwu sinjur li ghandu ghal qalbu l-ambjent. Jien ma nafx kemm tiswa. Forsi kieku kelli biex kont nixtriha jien.
Mr Lawrence Camilleri
Jul 28th 2011, 20:43
@ Mr John J Borg - jidher li ma tafx kemm hi kbira l-Ulysses Lodge - sewwa sew kbira daqs villa bis-swimming pool. L-art kollha madwarha ma tiswa xejn minghajr permess ta zvilupp u bil-prezz ta' kif inhi bhala art agrikola m'ghandhiex teccedi nofs l-ispiza tac-caqlieq tat-Tritons Fountain..
Andrew Borg-Cardona
Jul 28th 2011, 17:17
Leaving aside the fact that it's always good news when due process functions, whether or not the outcome is universally approved, I wonder how long it will take for this to be spun into something anti-Government? It will be interesting to observe.
Ms MD Fenech
Jul 28th 2011, 17:59
In nies tghallmu llum dottore, l importanti hu li l gustizzja ssir u tidher li qed issir, mhux hekk?
Edgar Rossignaud
Jul 28th 2011, 23:08
Most of us are always so prompt to criticise MEPA, (I don't mind including myself) but maybe we should be honest enough to admit that this 'new' MEPA is acting rightly and courageously to preserve what is left to protect in these islands. Don't forget that it recently also refused to sanction the shanty town in the Dwejra basin, another jewel worth restoring. Hopefully they will use the same yard-stick when faced with similar abusive applications, and will oppose the politicians attempt to retain the Marfa illegal village, Gnejna, etc. We deserve to get our country back from the cow-boys who have ruled it for decades..
Charlie Borg
Jul 28th 2011, 23:37
I wonder if you are gentleman enough to give a heartfelt PROSIT to FAA whom you denigrate endlessly!
Mr Lawrence Camilleri
Jul 28th 2011, 17:05
Great news indeed for all of Malta that Gozo's Jewel, Ramla is saved. Congratulations to FAA, Save Ramla Group who showed determination and other NGO's who showed support during the ordeal. As rightly pointed out, it was necessary for the NGO Save Ramla to incur substantial expenses forked out by a few private individuals for arriving at today's big news and all Maltese should show their appreciation by contributing even a small sum. Next step for government to buy the land, declare the whole area Natura 2,000 site, bring down the Lodge and rehabilitate the area to its pristine state. Then the goddess Calypso will breathe fresher air.
D Borg
Jul 28th 2011, 17:02
Whilst I have already sent funds to FAA as one of the NGO's who exposed MEPA's crazy original decision...
I believe that it would be appropriate that MEPA foots the bill for all the time and expenses that FAA incurred, simply to induce MEPA to do what MEPA itself was dutibound to do in the first place!
MEPA's top brass get paid hefty remuneration out of taxpayer funds - and then NGOs are expected to check whether MEPA are actually doing their work properly - and all this for free with some disguised and less so threats to the same NGO's every now and again.....
Mr James Tyrrell
Jul 28th 2011, 18:42
Agree with you 100% D Borg.
Mr R ferriggi
Jul 28th 2011, 16:55
praise the Lord.
someone somewhere has seen sense.
we had lost hope completely for these islands.
Joe A. Borg
Jul 28th 2011, 16:55
Well done FAA.
Keep up the good work.
Mr Peter Borg Olivier
Jul 28th 2011, 16:54
Best news I've heard in years !!
Darren Muscat
Jul 28th 2011, 16:42
Finally, thanks MEPA.
Jimmy John M Vella
Jul 28th 2011, 16:42
Kif suppost!
Mr Jowey Brownie
Jul 28th 2011, 16:41
What a great Sigh of relief - Gozo has won today not lost as did the common sense
Mr John J Borg
Jul 28th 2011, 19:23
you tell that to the hundreds of gozitan families, whose living depen on the construction industry, directly or indirectly................everyone knows we cannot build forever, everywhere or anywhere...but in case you missed the large building, right lower part of the photo....its where the reconstuction should have taken place....
Mr Lawrence Camilleri
Jul 28th 2011, 21:49
Totally wrong Mr John J Borg, that was just a small part in the application, just enough for one villa with swimming pool, the rest was to be built on pristine land.