Some 50 Balzan residents protested against the ongoing development within the locality this afternoon.

Organised by the Balzan local council and NGO Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar, the demonstrators lamented the proposed development of apartment blocks over several of the town's parks and gardens.

Balzan Mayor John Zammit Montebello said some seven applications for large developments within the Balzan area were currently awaiting the planning authority's green light.

"This locality is known for its gardens and parks, we want to keep it that way."

"We're not saying no development, we're saying sustainable development," Dr Zammit Montebello said.

FAA spokeswoman Astrid Vella said the planning authority was complicit with developers' plans to build over the island's scattered green lungs.

She said that the proposed development of villas in the grounds of Palazz ta' Rohan in Balzan was a clear example of rampant development across the island.

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