A failure to defend heritage

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority is undoubtedly guilty of failing to defend the heritage of St Julians. The PRO is even suggesting that it was up to the public to prevent the descheduling of a grade three property at Balluta Bay.

How is it possible that anyone could preserve a building of architectural merit with a grade three listing by knocking it down and building an apartment block? Of course, this would "blend in with the surroundings" but the author of the grade three condition for development meant the original surroundings, such as Villa Cassar Torregiani, Villa Blanche and Villa Priuli - all listed properties in the area adjacent to the parish church.

It is disappointing that the condition was twisted.

The irregular decision required the minister's affirmation to undo the conservation listing. The minister could have and should have stopped it.

May I remind the PRO that 10 years ago, when the descheduled properties at Balluta were first put on the protected list, the Planning Authority took out a full page colour advertisement to show everyone how noble it was. Where is the Heritage Advisory Committee and any one else at Mepa who is capable of stopping the greed of developers from eating into the fabric of our towns and villages?

Since Mepa has eroded the bastions of the grade three protection ruling with this decision, the least the authority can do is to ensure that the condition for scheduled properties of this level is adjusted to prevent a run of descheduling of grade three properties based on the same warped thinking.