Editorial: When will this vandalism stop?

The latest proposal to build a massive lido along the Sliema to Gżira seafront has incensed many – and with good reason.

While we are tired of the relentless commercialisation of every inch of public space, every skyline, every coastal view, the proposal to develop a lido on reclaimed land from the sea, on possibly the only remaining picturesque stretch in Sliema, is a disgrace.

The irony could not be starker. The proposed development faces Manoel Island, which is meant to be turned into a national park. They took the open spaces, they commercialised the pavements, they took the airspace, they occupied the promenade. What else is left? The sea, of course.

Applications for apartment blocks and hotels continue to mushroom along the same promenade, with the coast being privatised and commercial activity squeezed into spaces that once belonged to everyone.

Of course, the latest Sliema lido proposal is still only an application but can one really blame the growing number of cynical Maltese who believe the permit is practically guaranteed, especially knowing the applicants’ political connections?

We can only look at recent history to justify those fears.

Just metres away from the proposed site, another lido was built thanks to more land reclamation, with the Planning Authority giving its blessing despite widespread objections. Not only was that original application approved but an illegal rooftop deck was later sanctioned too.

And, just at the entrance of Manoel Island, illegal padel courts have just been recommended for sanctioning against a paltry fine.

The message this sends is clear: break the rules, then wait for the inevitable sanctioning process for a small fine.

Our planning system is nothing short of a disgrace – it is not to protect the public interest but to accommodate those with the resources and connections to push boundaries... until that resistance collapses. There seems to be an air of resignation as the election campaign proceeds – both Labour and the Nationalist parties remain conspicuously timid whenever the conversation turns to construction reform, leaving only Momentum and ADPD to air the frustrations of tens of thousands.

Labour’s closeness to the development lobby is hardly a secret. Yet, the Nationalist Party, despite knowing the public frustration over overdevelopment, still appears unwilling to commit itself unequivocally to a serious clampdown on unbridled construction or a radical overhaul of planning laws.

Why?

Perhaps because both parties fear alienating contractors, developers and speculators who wield considerable influence. Perhaps they feel they could alienate some of their own supporters dependent on making money off construction.

Or perhaps because politicians know that confronting overdevelopment requires difficult conversations about limits, enforcement and sustainability, conversations that may cost votes. Who cares about the rest of us? Who cares about the fact Malta is becoming uglier by the day.

And uglification is not merely an aesthetic concern. It affects mental well-being, tourism, community identity and quality of life. It erodes the character of villages and towns. It replaces architectural heritage with soulless concrete blocks built for just profit.

There is something deeply tragic about the fact that some of the country’s most iconic views now survive more beautifully in old postcards than in reality. We are slowly preserving Malta only in memory.

We are not suggesting a stop to development altogether. A modern country requires investment, housing and regeneration. But development without vision, restraint or respect to neighbours eventually is nothing short of vandalism.

The Sliema to Gżira promenade should not become another casualty of this mentality. Nor should Manoel Island become the latest example of symbolic environmentalism overshadowed by relentless commercial exploitation happening right beside it.