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Priests battle to reduce height of buildings under construction
The Augustinian community is up in arms against the multi-storey construction project in Pieta’ tabled by BCD Projects Limited.
22 May 2013, 12:00am
Chris Mangion
Chris Mangion
1 min read
The order's Provincial Emmanuel Borg Bonello and Fr Joseph Farrugia managed to secure a court injunction, halting the construction company's plans to erect a block of four storeys and a penthouse at Marina Street, Pietà.
The priests' claim emanates from a 1926 contract of acquisition, which grants the priests the right known as 'altuis non tollendi' precluding the neighbours from constructing sidewalls over a particular height, and effectively burying their property behind high concrete walls.
Judge Anna Felice held that the contracts tabled over the Augustinian's property show that the site at Marina Street indeed enjoy the rights claimed by the priests. The Court upheld the Augustinian's plea and ordered that the construction works carried out by BCD Projects in Pieta cannot exceed the height of two storeys.
The judge also stated that the expenses of the case is to be paid by the company.
Chris Mangion is MaltaToday’s photojournalist, joining the newspaper in 2013.
In 1995...
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@Girbi. Can you please specify the exact spot of this proposed building? Ursoline Creche and Fatima church are on opposite sides of Guardamangia and quite a distance from each other. How can this building affect both?
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@elwenzu - the same as when they ring their dastardly bells at all odd hours, whenever they want and however long they want, disturbing the peace and rest of anyone in the vicinity. If you or I went about making half the racket even once we would be taken to prison, but the priests do it on a daily constant basis with impunity.
Lino Camilleri •
Nixtieq naf min japprova il permessi hux kwalifikat jew kompetenti. Ghax jekk iva mela dan korrott ghax li tkun taf li l-bini gholi li int approvajt ser jidfen lill ta magenbhom bilfors li hekk tikkonkludi li int inkella mintiex kompetenti jew kwalifikaat. Lili difnuni, ghalquli l-arja, xemx rari nara, kelli veduta tal bahar u llum hlief hitan monstruzi ma narax. Il mepa kienet taf b;kollox u l=periti ukoll kienu jafu u xorta ghafgu kif jaqbel lilhom. Dan barra li mhux talli ma zvalutawlix il post imma tfacca hafna mard fil familja tieghi li qabel qatt ma baghtejna bihom. Nixtieq nghid aktar imma hawn ma jaqbillix ghax ghalkemm jien perswaz li nkissru il ligijiet pero ma nistax nissostanzja ghax persuni bhali li jafu b'kollox mhux lesti jixdhu. Issa kullhadd jibqa bli ha.
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The Augustinian community might be right to fight but money makes right.In other words they might have stopped the construction now but I guarantee you that it is only a temporary injunction against BCD Projects. Sooner or later the construction company will have their way and build to whatever height they want. May I remind everybody that "We are Maltese and we do as we please" and do not forget that money talks and bullshit walks? Unfortunately there is nowhere to go but up. This is not a matter of choice but a matter of running out of space. Malta is a small country with an overwhelming population, same with the roads overwhelmed with traffic congestion. Where do we go from here????
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The Ursuline creche and the Church of Our Lady of fatima in G'manga/Pieta are about to suffer from a similar building about to be constructed in Ursuline Sisters Street.
What ever happened to MEPA rules protecting Churches, village cores and residents?
Is it not enough that we already suffer from an abusive and protected panel beater and sprayer in the same Ursuline Sisters Street?
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But the priests can build their churches as tall as they like. One law for them and screw everyone else.
