The owner of a farmhouse and three adjacent fields in Marsaxlokk has filed a judicial protest against the Planning Authority over the inclusion of a piece of land in the development zone through a rationalisation process of land in Tal-Marnisi area.

Martin Caruana, 64, said he was the owner of a farmhouse in Triq il-Kavallerizza in Marsaxlokk and that his residence and the three fields where he kept his animals were not taken into account in the rationalisation process.

He said the authority had conducted a public consultation in 2007, a year after it had issued the new local plans, to which he had replied, saying he was an interested party.

Despite receiving an acknowledgement, dated June 25, 2006, the Planning Authority went ahead with its plans, saying it had not received any representation from anyone. The proposal to establish the zoning, building height limitations and road alignments of the rationalisation exercise site are to be discussed at a public meeting this afternoon.

Mr Caruana claimed the photos submitted as part of the process were taken from an angle which restricted the view and which fooled whoever saw them.

The photos did not include the garigue as well as various carob and olive trees which were protected.

He further claimed the proposed development would violate the European Union directive on habitats and the legal notice on flora, fauna and natural habitats regulations issued in 2003.

In his judicial protest, Mr Caruana called on the Planning Authority to respect regulations and warned he was prepared to take further legal steps to stop any development in the area.

Lawyer Tonio Azzopardi signed the judicial protest.

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