The monster of the Hondoq development application has again reared its ugly head. This Goliath was vanquished a few years ago by the people of Qala with a resounding vote of 85 per cent against but now it has returned with a vengeance.

If this project is allowed to take place the peace and tranquillity of Qala will be ruined forever. The quaint narrow village streets and square will be choked by fumes from the developer's trucks and pedestrians will take their lives in their hands just going about their daily lives. Forget about sitting outside any of the restaurants and bars or attending an external church function in the square: the fumes and the danger of traffic will soon drive you away.

To escape from all this you might go down to Hondoq ir-Rummien Bay where the clean blue waters once lapped at the small, safe bathing beach and there was plenty of parking, albeit a little scruffy and unkempt, nonetheless a popular place with tourists and locals to come for a swim and a sunbathe and even a cool drink and a pizza.

If the marina development is allowed there will no longer be clean, clear water, just the murky, oily mess that can be viewed any day at Mgarr. Would you want to let your children swim in the harbour?

I don't think so. It is a complete nonsense to claim a zero impact on the swimming beach when common sense tells you the opposite.

At a time when tourism is declining and with no revival in sight, when hotels are closing and businesses failing, does it make any sense at all to allow the building of a hotel, shops, restaurants and multi-ownership apartments (time share by another name) and in doing so ruin yet another piece of Gozo's beleaguered coastline?

This project has not yet been given the go-ahead. Despite rumours to the contrary, it can still be opposed. It is not an insurmountable obstacle if the residents act with one voice.

People of Qala, put aside your political, religious and personal differences and rise up against the greater threat to your village and its surroundings; to your lifestyle and your heritage. Once Hondoq is lost it can never be reclaimed and Gozo is too small for the luxury of developmental mistakes.

Planning and development should not be allied to politics. Damage to the environment and heritage affects us all regardless of party.

Don't just let it happen! Act now and help stop the proposed destruction!