Congratulations to Malcolm Mifsud for his level-headed contribution on the planned expansion of St Augustine’s College in Pietà (The Sunday Times, February 12) and his defence of residents, like me.

He has rightly given a couple of examples of the long-standing arrogance of the school authorities who built two separate floors (at the existing school) by being devious.

There are many more cases of the college’s intransigence and selfishness. They have no idea of what being ‘good neighbours’ means.

They have to get what they want, otherwise they stamp their feet and expect the rules to be changed, as now.

You also carried two other contributions on this matter, which deserve some comment. Lorraine Darmanin made a largely incoherent presentation, the highlight of which was that people have a right to send their children to Church schools, therefore St Augustine’s obviously has the right to build another school, or words to that effect.

She also makes a convoluted argument in favour of Mepa at one point, and at the same time completely ignores the fact that it is precisely Mepa and not just the residents who have, mercifully, turned down the Pietà project.

As regards the gentlemen who collectively put their names to the letter from Tal-Virtù, they have my genuine sympathy, and no doubt those of my fellow residents. I completely understand their anger and frustration at being treated with similar contempt by the Church authorities.

However, the residents’ passion gets the better of them, to the extent that they now suggest that one wrong in their regard was not enough. We now have to commit a further wrong and let the school authorities once again ride roughshod.

As they themselves said, the Mepa approval at the Seminary was a mistake. It makes no sense whatever to repeat it.

More shameful still, the Prime Minister has now been petitioned with a request to break the rules.

Imagine the consequences for Mepa and Malta if he were to agree with the petitioners.