I refer to the article entitled Lija Council Appeals Against Development Permit (April 4). I am in full agreement with the council's appeal that any surrounding development should not be allowed to overshadow the Belveder tower and that the present height restrictions should prevail.

For the sake of accuracy, I would like to point out that some details mentioned regarding the history of the Belveder tower were incorrect.

As one of the co-owners of Villa Gourgion, I know that Villa Gourgion has not been demolished and still exists.

The entrance is at No. 4, Sir Ugo Mifsud Street, Lija and it is at present being used as the art gallery known as Gallery G.

The report also mentions that "when the villa was demolished, the authorities gave the green light to retain the tower in its original position when the avenue was opened in 1956 and has since remained." The exact version is that the government had expropriated part of the extensive garden of Villa Gourgion that included the Belveder tower so as to pass a main road leading to the Lija parish church. In fact, the tower together with other structures were earmarked to be demolished. It was only after strong opposition by the Depiro Gourgion family that the authorities accepted to retain the tower and to pass the road around it.