Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar has renewed its call to Mepa to schedule or issue an Emergency Conservation Order on the Casa del Gioco gardens in Three Churches Street, Balzan and Villino Giannin in Għaxaq.
An application to build up the protected old garden in Balzan, FAA said, will be heard by Mepa tomorrow.
It said in a statement that both these large historical properties date back to Baroque times, and their large gardens were designated as protected green enclaves in their respective local plans ratified by Parliament.
It is a well known that since developers have been severely limited in what they can develop outside the development zone, they are now casting their eyes on large gardens in urban conservation areas, green lungs that urban communities can ill afford to lose, FAA said.
It said that the local [lan relevant to Palazzo Giannin stated:
"In the private gardens and open space enclaves, as indicated on the relevant policy maps, Mepa will not consider any new development or redevelopment proposals that create independent units, including garages."
The garden, FAA said, was also full of protected old trees and although Mepa consistently refused this application consistently, it had now been approved by the Appeals Board.
"The permits in both cases are highly suspicious, approved in spite of the recommended refusals of Mepa's case officers, Heritage Advisory Committee and Integrated Heritage Management Unit.
"The DCC board approved the Balzan permit at reconsideration stage just before the 2007 elections in spite of the fact that MEPA policy indicates that within Urban Conservation Areas, the construction of internal residential developments will be not be permitted.
"This policy was issued in April 2007, however, consultations prior to its publication mean that decision-makers were well aware of its guidelines."
FAA said that on August 23, the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage wrote to Mepa about the impending Balzan case, urging the authority to schedule the property.
The Superintendence also requested investigations of planning permits on site to establish irregularities or shortcomings, it said,
"In view of the fact that this case might be decided tomorrow and that the scheduling process takes time, FAA urges that an Emergency Conservation Order be issued immediately on both properties, to prevent the destruction of more of our architectural heritage and urban green lungs."