The Gozo courthouse, situated in an impractical 17th-century building at the Cittadella, could move to a modern, larger complex in Victoria once the planning authority issues terms of reference to identify the site.

With only two courtrooms, the palazzo is inadequately equipped for the needs of the Gozo judiciary and completely inaccessible to people who are wheelchair-bound. Its lack of security has often been highlighted by Gozitan lawyers.

Back in 2008, the Gozo Ministry, which is responsible for the Gozo courts, filed an application with the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to build a multi-storey car park and law courts in George Borg Olivier Street, Victoria.

Although the plans were amended in 2009, the application remained pending because the site was in an area that, according to the local plans, needed a development brief.

In March 2011 there was a partial review of the Gozo and Comino local plan, which, among other issues, gave policy guidance to the site, a planning authority spokesman said.

“Before the submission of any new applications or the processing of the current application, the policy lays down that a site selection exercise shall be carried out on Mepa’s terms of reference to identify sites for the law courts,” he added.

Once the terms of reference are issued, then the applicant – in this case the Gozo Ministry – will hold a public consultation on the draft site selection report before submitting it to the planning authority.

Built by Grand Master Wignacourt, the building was previously used as the Governor’s Palace and sits in the main square of the Cittadella.

Its lack of security was recently highlighted after a man was stabbed 18 times and a lawyer was injured in a courtroom during a civil lawsuit sitting. Soon after, the Gozo Ministry asked the Justice Ministry to help out and it was given a metal detector that was then installed at the entrance. Two security officers were also employed to inspect people walking into the building.

Another attempt was made to move the Gozo courts almost six years ago, when the Ministry for Gozo applied to build on a site that formed part of the Ninu Cremona Complex in Victoria. The application was refused by the authority because of its vicinity to schools.