The Sliema Residents' Association has welcomed the recent scheduling of Villa Bonici but regretted that what remains of its lower garden was not scheduled as well.

Villa Bonici was scheduled by Mepa as a grade 2 property. The scheduling covers the villa building itself and the garden within the upper boundary fence, the dance floor/open air cinema, the watch tower, panoramic balcony, grand staircase, niche, caretaker’s quarters and war-time shelter.

The SRA said it was a pity that the lower half of the garden was not considered for scheduling as well.

"Apart from being an integral part of the Villa and its gardens, it has various unique features in every corner which also deserve protection. Unfortunately a large part of the lower garden and perimeter wall were already destroyed in the 1950s to make way for construction of apartments at The Strand. These apartments are once more up for redevelopment to entirely close off all of Sliema within an eleven floor bastion like structure of apartments."

The association argued that all of the property should be scheduled to reduce further development in an already unsustainable town and to leave the last major green lung, unique to Sliema.

It reiterated that part of the property should be used as a home for the elderly.