MEPA’s appeals tribunal grants extension to Ramla developers

In 2007, MEPA had rescinded the controversial permit to allow the building of 23 villas in Ramla l-Hamra bay in Gozo, on the grounds that incorrect information had been provided by the developers.

MEPA had revoked the permit on the grounds that the developers’ declaration that the site was all private land was incorrect.

But following the appeal made by the developers, the Appeals Court has now granted a time extension to the developers in order to obtain the signatures of the owners of the public land and submit a PC application.

According to environmental NGOs Flimkien ghall-Ambjent Ahjar and Save Ramla Group, during the hearing held in Gozo last Thursday, the developers admitted that the small parcel of land in question was not their property.

“The developers stated they had a Planning Control (PC) Application in order to apply to change the designation of this land so that they could build on it,” FAA said. “Dr. Degaetano, MEPA’s Appeals lawyer, immediately rebutted, saying that this PC application had not yet been submitted.”

Reportedly, the Appeals Tribunal then granted the Ramla developers an extension until July this year in order to obtain the signatures of the owners of the public land and submit a PC application. 

“Failure to do this by end July would mean that the appeal will be nullified by MEPA,” FAA said.

However, both FAA and Save Ramla Group said they fail to understand why the Appeals Tribunal should grant the developers an extension which would enable them to carry out such a development on such a treasured site. 

Both NGOs also said the developers have claimed that the land was only registered as public land by the government when their case came up: “However [we] contested the claim, saying the land was registered and known to be public land well before that time.”

The NGOs went on to say that given the extension, they are renewing their call for public support on their campaign to save Ramla l-Hamra bay.

“If this permit is issued, the building up of the whole Ramla headland will be inevitable,” they said.

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