Now is the time for Mepa to show it has really got over the Jeffrey Pullucino Orlando/Mistra Bay syndrome. If Mepa and the Appeals Board really want to show their mettle and move towards seriousness, the opportunity is theirs for the taking by turning down the application for development in Triq it-Tonn, St Paul's Bay.

This area is the only part of central St Paul's Bay left in its natural state. As Edmond Bartolo explained (The Sunday Times, May 11) it is still pristine, pure and natural with several historic and archaeological connotations.

Although unknown to most people, it is an incredible tourist attraction and one would not believe the number of foreign visitors who, while walking along the main road of St Paul's Bay towards or from Xemxija, come across a corner with a wide view of the bay and St Paul's islands.

On walking down the short distance they get a full view of the bay with the cliffs and foreshore still left in their natural state, coupled with the old Dejma watch tower and sights of Xemxija Bay, Mistra and Selmun. One cannot believe that we still have such areas to enjoy and photograph. Certainly the many photographs and videos that are taken from this point are a major plus to attracting other tourists to our islands.

Only recently, in the pre-electoral period, Triq it-Tonn received some much-needed attention, so it would be very ironic if a development permit were to be issued now and, as a consequence, ruin the appreciable amount of public funds that went into financing this project.