A report to the planning authority that trees were being uprooted and soil removed from a 300-year-old palace garden in Balzan was initially ignored, according to a heritage NGO that was left “outraged” by the destruction.
Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, which had reported the case, said the Malta Environment and Planning Authority officials had insisted the works were approved and being carried out under its supervision.
Together with Balzan residents, FAA was “taken aback to learn that wanton destruction had in fact taken place inside this garden, resulting in Mepa issuing an enforcement order”.
It said large urban gardens, belonging to old palazzi, have become the latest targets of developers.
The planning authority had slapped construction magnate Charles Polidano with an enforcement notice, stopping him from carrying out illegal work in the gardens of protected Balzan townhouses. The action was said to have been carried out after a complaint was lodged about the works.
Enforcement officers found that work was under way on the site of four historic townhouses in the village core. Mr Polidano had repeatedly applied to knock them down to instead build six terraced houses, with swimming pools.
FAA said the development application was hotly contested by Balzan residents and had been refused by Mepa.
The latest attack on Malta’s heritage – Palazz ta’ Rohan in Main Street, Balzan – brought enforcement under the spotlight yet again, it said, pointing out that, all too often, FAA reported abuse only to be told that initial inspections revealed no infringements.
“Only ongoing inspection by Mepa and stiff fines will stamp out such abuse,” it maintained.
The authority, continued to issue development permits in protected green enclaves as it did at Palazzo Giannin and Palazz tas-Sinjura in Għaxaq, it said, questioning why these old palaces have not been protected by scheduling in spite of FAA’s calls months ago. Other old Balzan gardens were similarly under threat, it said.
Although gardens were protected by the local plans in each of Malta’s towns and villages, not a single old garden in Sliema and St Julians had been protected as a green enclave.
“We cannot help wondering whether this is intended to facilitate their eventual development,” FAA said.