MaltaMedia.com
Online News from Malta
View Latest News

News : Local

MEPA withdraws Ramla l-Ħamra permit
By MaltaMedia News
Oct 4, 2007 - 4:45:16 PM
EMAIL this Article
DIGG this Article digg
SAVE to Del.icio.usdel.icio.us
PRINTER-friendly Pageprint
The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) has withdrawn its permit for the development of 23 villas on the hillside overlooking the Gozitan beach at Ramla l-Ħamra.

On Thursday afternoon, the MEPA board unanimously decided to revoke the permit since the developer did not honour one of the conditions set by the Authority. MEPA had requested that the developer ensures that the development is only used for touristic purposes, that the site would remain as one, and that no parts of the site could be sold to third parties.

However, it was later discovered that part of the land was in fact government-owned land. The permit was therefore withheld due to a false statement of ownership.

The applicants' lawyers objected to the decision.

In a press release, Moviment Graffitti welcomed the board's decision and said that now that the decision has been withdrawn, MEPA should do its utmost to protect the area from any unsustainable development.

The debate on the development of Ramla l-Ħamra has been debated for long. Back in June, various NGOs had participated in a national protest to revoke the permit.

In another statement, Alternattiva Demokratika welcomed the MEPA decision but called it a politically expedient u-turn by a Government that will soon face a general election. It also criticised the planning process in Malta.

Meanwhile in July, the European Commission had opened a new complaint against Malta and sought clarification from Maltese authorities with regards to the developments taking place at Ramla.




© Copyright 2007 by MaltaMedia.com

[an error occurred while processing this directive]
Top of Page
Local
Headlines
Caravan squatters to be removed
Bird guard operations extended
New Parish dedicated to Malta's first saint
Maltese most cautious in sexual relationships
AEGEE Valletta begin new semester on campus
367 youths participate in employment scheme
Unemployment falls by 469 persons in August
New house to open for boys with difficult backgrounds
Immigrant repatriation programme deemed successful
Rare Black Storks shot down in FKNK's Mizieb


  Latest update:
  Oct 5, 2007 - 10:34:58 PM CET