Pietà mayor Malcolm Mifsud has expressed disappointment at the appeal filed by St Augustine College against the planning authority’s decision to turn down its application to build a new primary school in the locality.
“This appeal is a slap in the face for many Pietà residents who had objected to the development and who had put their minds at rest that an alternative solution would be found,” he said in a statement.
The college had been given three alternative sites to build the school and had said it was considering one of the sites near the old medical school, he said.
College rector Fr Alan Scerri said the college had always said it would keep its options open and appealing was a right. He added that, although there had been discussions with the government, the college had not been officially presented with alterative sites.
The college is proposing to build four floors and two basement levels, covering an area of 7,700 square metres, on an undeveloped site between the existing secondary school and some back gardens in a residential area.
The primary school is needed to implement a national educational policy that aims at having a smoother passage between primary and secondary levels in all schools.
In February the Malta Environment and Planning Authority turned down the application saying the design and height of the proposed building were unacceptable and would constitute overdevelopment of the site.
Parents, teachers and students then held a protest in Valletta to voice their frustration at the decision, which has left 150 pupils, who were due to have started attending the primary school, with an uncertain scholastic future.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi was presented with a petition asking the government to help them find a timely solution.