Letters | Sunday, 19 April 2009

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Wied il-Ghasel saga

Your news item last Sunday concerning the position taken by the Mosta local council is welcome news indeed. In fact, the Mosta local council had been conspicuous by its absence so far in the whole Wied l-Ghasel development permit saga, in stark contrast to the previous local council who had resolutely objected to further development of the valleyside.
I have followed the case closely ever since its inception in 2002 and was personally involved in drafting the objection Nature Trust submitted, originally to the development of an old people’s home, on the same site. In two press conferences I held on the bridge overlooking the valley, held despite the asperity shown by some individuals who chose to tear up within minutes notices of the meeting affixed on site, I expounded to residents present on a possible legal avenue which could be undertaken, besides the provisions of the Environment Liability Directive which was transposed into local law recently.
Now that the media hype is dying down on the case in question, I still remain committed in helping the same residents. One of the environmental proposals I have fielded in my campaign specifically relates to the need for environmental legal aid to alleviate the financial burden incurred by residents’groups when objecting to development. The much-hyped MEPA reform will hopefully include provisions for greater rights to residents.

Dr Alan Deidun
Gudja

In reading a report in the media regarding the proposed permit to build 24 apartments and 26 garages in Wied il-Għasel, Mosta the idea sounded so preposterous that I couldn’t help questioning if there is any relationship between the developer, architects and MEPA.
I decided to look further into this matter and guess what, the connection I thought would be there is indeed there and in fact has already been reported in the same media. Out of the three architects involved in this development two have been MEPA board members for years. One of these is presently involved in two court cases about unethical MEPA practice and yet unbelievably he is still sitting on the MEPA Natural Heritage Committee.
It is imperative that MEPA re-examine this situation without further delay and whilst that re-examination is taking place they should issue an Emergency Conservation Order to ensure that no further damage is caused to the area. Before the last election Dr Gonzi promised that reform would take place at MEPA. Where is this reform? What has changed?
Not only is this valley Outside Development Zone (ODZ), but it is a nature reserve protected by UN environment protection gradings. That means that if the countryside can be raped here, with such strong protection, it can happen anywhere. Is nowhere sacred to MEPA?

James A. Tyrrell
Northern Ireland

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