The Archdeacon of the Gozo Cathedral Chapter is “extremely disappointed” by the way in which the planning authority’s environment directorate criticised a car park project at the Citadel.

“I’m starting to doubt whether they (the planning authority) are taking us seriously,” Archdeacon and Gozo Vicar General, Mgr Giovanni Gauci said.

The Gozo Cathedral Chapter filed an application to build a parking area with 84 spaces over two levels and to stabilise the slopes at the site outside the Citadel in an area known as Ir-Raba’ Ta’ Wara s-Sur.

The proposal was criticised by the Environment Protection Directorate, which said it was significantly concerned about the land take-up on a site that was a candidate for inclusion on the Unesco World Heritage List, among other things.

Mgr Gauci pointed out that the Cathedral Chapter had agreed to amend the plans and reduced the parking spaces from the original 113 spread over three levels.

“They asked us for an environmental impact assessment and we gave them one – spending thousands of euro,” he said.

However, the plans would not be changed again. “We will not build a car park for a few cars. I can’t understand on what solid grounds could they be objecting to the project.”

Mgr Gauci said there was a dire need for the car park and the makeshift field used for the purpose was not enough.

“We are providing a service to the others. It is used by people who need to go to court or attend a church service,” he said.

Over the weekend or when certain religious functions were taking place, the parking situation became “disastrous”.

“There is a great need for the car park and we will not destroy the landscape,” he said.

The project had been in the pipeline for years and the Cathedral Chapter would not change the plans, which had been updated and downscaled in 2010.

There were people who spoke in favour of the environment and culture but who “will worry about the need for a car park”.

“I only hope that common sense and practicality prevail,” Mgr Gauci added.