Residents doubt the need of a new parish centre in M'Scala

The Curia’s application, which is currently being processed by MEPA, is requesting a permit to bring down a house and instead build up a seven-storey pastoral centre.  According to the newspaper Torċa, the house was built in 1910.

Activists in favour of preserving historical heritage told the newspaper that the house forms part of the property built by the Palace Apap Bologna, which holds the church “tar-Rużarju”. Activists are saying that “the proposed development could ruin the Palace’s central position in the village.”

After investigations carried out by the newspaper it turned out the parish members did not even know about the proposal and they seem to find no justification in the need of a new pastoral building. They told the newspaper that the “Sala San Ġwakkin” already holds hundreds of people and is enough. “Moreover we expected public consultation, not only within the parish community but also with the residents themselves. The present building has an intrinsic value to Wied il-Għajn’s local identity,” they said.

The house, who used to belong Baroness Apap Balogna, was left to the church in her will.