Reading through the letter Beginning Of The End For Wied Il-Għasel by Joseph Abdilla (March 21), I came to know that the development at the edge of Wied il-Għasel has been approved. As a Mosta resident and also as a former mayor of Mosta, I was not only surprised, but also saddened by this news.

When the first application to build an old people's home on this site was made, I brought this application to the attention of the local council.

The site was partially in an outside development zone and there is no doubt that such a project was going to have a negative effect on the natural beauty of Wied il-Għasel. The council objected to this development and organised a protest on the bridge next to the site in question. The application was turned down. Subsequently another application was made by the developers and the council objected once again.

This was not the only case where the Mosta council, led by a Nationalist majority, objected to a development because we had the environment at heart, in particular the building of industrial garages next to Tarġa Gap school and the building of a supermarket in the area known as Tal-Blata l-Għolja, both in an ODZ.

Wied il-Għasel is a valley which is greatly appreciated not only by the majority of the residents of Mosta but by all those who have the natural and cultural heritage at heart. We always were close to the residents and always gave them our support when it was justified.

Unfortunately now that we have a council led by a Labour majority things have changed. We don't discuss such issues.

We have never discussed this development next to Wied il-Għasel which is an area of natural beauty. If this project goes ahead it will make way for further developments. Moreover, I cannot understand how Mepa first scheduled this valley and now is giving its approval for such a development!