The Qala council has called on the government to expropriate Ħondoq ir-Rummien in Gozo turning it into a public zone to be enjoyed by everyone.
It said in a statement on Monday it had officially submitted its request to Prime Minister Robert Abela on August 28.
This was a few days after the Prime Minister announced that planning laws were to be amended to ensure that Ħondoq ir-Rummien will not be developed.
This process has been embarked upon by the Planning Authority.
The Prime Minister’s promise followed a court decision striking down a company's plans to develop a tourist village in the zone.
In its statement, the council said it had always been consistent against development at Ħondoq and it was the council itself that had organised a consultative referendum in 2002.
In this referendum, 84.5 % of Qala residents who cast their vote were against development at Ħondoq.
A 21-year-battle against the development ensued with the council spending thousand of euros to fight the application, the council said.