About 200 people, many of whom residents of Santa Marija Estate in Mellieħa, have signed a petition calling for the protection of their locality.
In the petition - Save Santa Marija Estate - which was sent to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and the chairman of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority chairman Austin Walker, the Santa Marija and Kortin Residents' Association called for measures to preserve the area.
The association pointed out that, when the area was established by the Central Mediterranean Development Corporation Ltd in the 1960s, residents were bound by strict contractual obligations to build a detached bungalow on each plot, restricted to only 20 per cent of the plot in order to preserve the open green area of the estate.
However, the association said, development parameters were revised by the planning authority in 2000, leading to a relaxation process "with changes of considerable impact", some of which contradicting the contractual obligations between Cenmed and residents. The site coverage was increased to 30 per cent and single bungalows could be replaced by two semi-detached units. Flats were also allowed on villa sites while changes were introduced in the calculation of building height.
"The result of this misguided relaxation of planning policies for the area is slowly but surely eroding the character of the estate," the association said, adding that developers were targeting existing bungalows with applications to demolish them and replace them with semi-detached units, increasing the density.
"Considerable damage has already been done and the haemorrhage has to be stopped," the association said. It stressed that Mepa should revert back to the previous policy with better safeguards to the environment and neighbours' property in consultation with the local council and the residents' association.
"Our aim is to reinforce the original status of the area as a garden estate and not a concrete jungle."
Among its proposals, the association said plot density should not exceed 25 per cent of the site coverage, which would still allow for a bungalow of 280 square metres, while excavation should only be limited to the building footprint and swimming pool areas.
Signatories to the petition commented that it was time to do something to ensure that the environment in the estate did not deteriorate. One resident, who lived in the area for 25 years, said it used to be a pleasure to walk in the valley, listen to birds and see wild life.
"Please allow us to enjoy the tranquil environment, the views and the beautiful ambience which was the main reason for investing in this area," another said and yet another signatory said parts of the estate "look like Sliema".