A heritage NGO has applauded the planning authority’s decision to turn down a controversial Portomaso extension application though it expressed concern.

It was Malta Environment and Planning Authority chairman Austin Walker who tilted the vote after board members were tied with six votes in favour and six against.

The close result indicated that planners were still in too much of a mixed mind when it came to environmental protection, Din l-Art Ħelwa said, though it added it was “encouraged” by Mepa’s decision.

While the importance of this decision must not go unappreciated, the vote did not augur well for the future of open spaces.

The NGO singled out Mr Walker for having had the courage to utilise his casting vote, which “could not have been easy in this instance”.