Ongoing demolition and excavation works at the former Palm Court Hotel, in Qawra, has turned the seaside resort “into a war zone”, according to residents, mostly expats
The works, which had been going on for the past two weeks, included the demolition of the entire building in two days with trucks now carting away debris on a daily basis and white construction dust strewn all over the place, they said.
“I have never seen such a savage way of demolishing a building,” a Briton who lives in an apartment close to the former hotel said.
“In just two days, and amid noises reminiscent of an air raid, the whole building became a mountain of debris,” another resident recounted, showing Times of Malta pictures he took of what he described as “a new war zone”.
Criticising the state of “despair” ‒ which, according to British expats, “the once idyllic island has been turned into by overdevelopment over the last few years” ‒ the residents complained that “the developers seem to ignore everyone as nothing ever happens” despite their various reports to the police about illegal activities.
The residents said that, despite rules that demolition and excavation jobs could not take place in tourist areas on public holidays, works on the site continued unabated last Friday.
“We called the police and they were here a few minutes later. However, for some reason, work continued a few minutes after they left,” a resident said.
Never seen such a savage way of demolishing a building
Times of Malta was informed that, according to the rules in force, it is up to the Building Regulations Office to see that regulations are observed.
However, industry sources commented that office was “practically inexistent”, adding that claims of close connections between officials and developers “are common among several industry players”.
So far, the Planning Authority has only given its consent for the demolition of the former hotel, which is expected to be turned into more than 100 apartments and penthouses for sale.
Four development applications were submitted on the same site plan by four applicants ‒ a move, which, according to PA sources, was intended by the developers to try to reduce the need for further costly studies.
The applications were filed by Gozitans Maria Agius, Chloe Portelli, Daniel Refalo and Mark Agius who are known to be closely associated with construction magnate Joseph Portelli of J. Portelli Projects. The applications were signed by architect Annamarie Attard Montalto.
Asked if the splitting of development applications over the same site for the same project was permitted, a PA spokesman said this could be done.
“It is standard practice that when the authority receives multiple applications within an area of land, it assesses the cumulative impact of the development irrespective of whether it has a single or multiple ownership,” he noted.