Call for protection of historic gardens

Environmentalists have called on the planning authority to issue an emergency conservation order on gardens in Balzan and Għaxaq, both threatened with development applications.

In a statement, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar said the planning authority should move to protect the gardens of Casa del Gioco in Three Churches Street, Balzan and Villino Giannin in Għaxaq.

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority is expected to deal with these two applications today. The gardens of historical properties date back to Baroque times and were designated as protected green enclaves in their respective Local Plans.

In the case of Palazzo Giannin, the Mepa board had turned down the application but this decision was overturned and upheld at appeals stage.

The Balzan development application was approved just before the election but in August 2011, the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage wrote to Mepa urging it to schedule the property.

“It is well known that since developers have been severely limited in what they can develop outside the development zone, they are now casting their eyes on large gardens in Urban Conservation Areas.

“Indeed the permits in both cases are highly suspicious, approved in spite of the recommended refusals of case officers,” the environmental lobby group said.