Environment NGO Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar said this afternoon that it shared Din l-Art Helwa’s concern at Mepa's recent processing of an application for the demolition of three old buildings flanking Naxxar Parish Church.

"This case is symptomatic of Mepa's failure to safeguard Malta’s heritage as the Mepa Board has yet again chosen to ignore the case officer’s outright refusal of these applications.

The Mepa Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee had declared “The Committee is confirming its previous comments and vehemently insists that it is against this development”.

FAA said this development would destroy a precious urban conservation garden to build more apartments.

"Mepa's failure to designate such gardens as ‘Protected Green Enclaves’ is noticeable in areas of interest to developers," the NGO said.

It noted that Mepa recently scheduled a number of architectural sites all over the Maltese islands, however, it said, given the long years that no properties were scheduled, the rate of scheduling still falls far short of what is needed.

"Architectural and historic gems that are increasingly being targeted by developers keen to build over their large gardens".

Furthermore, FAA complained that Mepa was not fulfilling its legal responsibility to ensure that such sites are maintained. 

"FAA asks whether Government’s commitment to preserving Malta’s architectural heritage is only skin deep, dictated by developers’ interests. Mepa is fiddling while all over the islands Malta’s heritage burns."