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Din l-Art Helwa questions timing of proposed Mistra re-development
Environmental NGO questions timing of MEPA decision on re-development of Mistra Village, expected for end of month.
12 October 2013, 12:00am
Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
2 min read
Din l-Art Helwa questioned why an application for the re-development of the Mistra Village was being decided now, when the formulation of a new policy to regulate high-rise buildings has just been launched.
The application to build high-rise apartments on the site of the former Mistra Village in St Paul's Bay is scheduled to be decided by the MEPA Board on 31 October.
The objectives of the new 'Floor Area Ratio Policy' were published by MEPA for consultation only this September.
MEPA's own specific objectives stated that high-rise buildings should not be constructed on ridges. Yet, the site of this application is on a high ridge which is of great panoramic value, the NGO said.
"The timing of the board hearing for the decision on this development calls the credibility of the proposed policy into serious question right from the start," DLH said.
It added that once the formulation of a new high-rise policy is underway it is expected that no decision on high-rise buildings should be taken before the policy is "finalised and its objectives respected."
The NGO pointed out that the ridge at Mistra is one of Malta's most sensitive and scenic viewpoints, and any development is visible across the island from Mellieha and St Paul's Bay.
DLH said that the Mistra case presented a perfect opportunity for the parliamentary secretary for planning, Michael Farrugia who this week claimd that he wished he could turn the clock back and get rid of disaster zones.
"This is one such golden opportunity. MEPA's imminent policy for high rise will itself not permit towering blocks to be built on ridges. If Mistra's development is allowed to go through, MEPA's policy will be aborted even before it is concluded."
Din l-Art Helwa asked whether the left hand within the Planning Authority was aware of what the right hand was doing, or whether this was simply an attempt to slip through a permit for high-rise development just before the new policy regulating such development is finalised.
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Where was Din L-Art Helwa when the several large blocks of flats were built around one of the most important archeological finds at Xemxija -phase 2? This large development is beyond Xemxija village! It did not utter a word! Was it because there was the PN government wrecking havoc?
As to the many ramblers and environmentalists who now live in flats where previous Maltese town houses were built, or who sold their own '400 year old historic houses' to go and live in new apartments, or those greens who are living in villas where previously green fields existed; why don't you just shut up cause your hypocrisy is just unbelievable!
I lived in an old derelict village house; it was very quaint for anthropologists, newly established millionairs who sold their Sliema town houses and the usual crowd: but not to me or to my family!
Why should a Maltese citizen suffer monetary loss on his property, when those protesting ( and playing the cool greenies) did the same thing on their' historic' property?
