Various governments have not done enough to protect the environment, a case in point being the garden city at Santa Maria Estate, Mellieħa. Unfortunately Mepa has extended the building area to 30 per cent.

The worst sacrilege is committed by owners who seek permission to change a villa into semi-detached properties. This means the destruction of the surrounding green embellishments, which results in a group of glaring white limestone blocks.

Sadly, a large part of Malta has been turned into an extended building site.