I live in the area of Villino Chapelle, St Paul’s Bay, and I know how many empty flats there are in the streets surrounding it. Because of poor (or non-existent) planning there is also a major traffic and parking problem.

Now we are told by Transport Malta that the building of 40 additional flats in the garden of Villino Chapelle, bringing in about 60 more cars, is not going to affect the traffic here. Whom are they trying to fool? And is the Malta Environment and Planning Authority not supposed to protect the environment, heritage and the interests of the community? So how can it approve new plans that destroy the environment of this historic house, ruin the views enjoyed by this protected architectural gem and deprive the community of the only green lungs in this area?

I regret to say that if the planning authority approves these plans it would have lost its way and betrayed the people of Malta.