Environmental NGO Ħarsien Patrimonju Mosti presented Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi with a petition, signed by over 24,000 people, calling on the government to intervene to save the Mosta valley.

The petition called on Dr Gonzi to “instruct the relevant authority” to withdraw the permit granted in 2009 allowing a block of 24 apartments to be built along Wied il-Għasel.

[attach id=197617 size="medium"]The site in Mosta valley where development has been approved. [/attach]

Nature Trust had appealed the decision and the Planning Appeal’s Board will be giving its final decision on June 21.

The petition says that the permit violates several planning policies since it allows development on the side of a valley that is a protected nature reserve and tree reserve.

The valley is the only one in Malta and Gozo that passes through a town or village and contains protected old rubble walls and the last standing Girna in a village.

The petition also points out that throughout the years, the planning authority had to intervene as the developers infringed various permit conditions. Some 24 residents had sworn under oath that the developer never affixed the planning notice to the site, according to law. As a result they were not made aware of the project and could not object.

Given this scenario, the government should intervene to stop the illegal permit from being approved on appeal, the NGO said.

It also called on the Prime Minster to ensure that no development was allowed in the ecologically sensitive area.

A copy of the petition will be sent to Opposition leader Joseph Muscat later today.

Alternattiva Demokratika in a statement said it backed the motion.

http://www.it-tarka.com/