News | Sunday, 28 June 2009

PRINT THIS ARTICLE

FAA on the warpath over historic Qormi armoury

Environmental NGO Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar has raised the alarm over damage to historic 18th century Qormi armoury, after a series of planning applications submitted to MEPA, for the construction of garages, maisonettes and apartments, were changed in order to sidestep planning restrictions.
Some of these applications had been recommended for refusal by MEPA officials, but FAA claims that the changes made to the various applications have resulted in the almost complete destruction of an extremely important historical building dating back to the period of the Knights of the Order of St John.
Parts of the surviving structure have architectural elements dating back to the 17th and even the 16th century.
In recommending refusal of these permits, the MEPA Case Officer quoted the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage as stating: “The property in question has a high level of cultural heritage significance and it should be noted that it is in the immediate vicinity of the 18thcentury armoury of Qormi”, and that; “proposed developments that contemplate the demolition of this property should not be granted a permit.”
In a statement issued yesterday, FAA slammed the DCC board for overturning the case officer’s advice.
“It is scandalous that the DCC board not only ignored but went completely against the refusal recommended by MEPA Case Officers, the MEPA Integrated Heritage Management Unit and the Superintendent of Cultural Heritage, and instead approved the almost complete demolition of the scheduled armoury and the building of a highly insensitive block in what was thought to be the armoury garden.”
In addition to all the infringements of MEPA regulations listed by the Case Officer, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar points to what it defines as “several other glaring abuses” in these cases.
“The fact that the time of the processing of the all-important Outline Permit, the architect who submitted the application sat on both the DCC C and the Heritage Advisory Committee, both of which vetted this case, is a glaring conflict of interest,” FAA chairperson Astrid Vella charged. “At the time of the application. these sites were within the Urban Conservation Area, however since the revision of the Local Plans, the demarcation line now skirts exactly around them.”
FAA further questions why the Heritage Advisory Committee has washed its hands of the case, instead of doing its duty and demanding to know by what criteria the oldest and most significant scheduled buildings had been excluded from the protection zone which surrounds them.
“Since this also happened in Milner Street, Sliema and other localities, it would appear that in places, the Local Plans were re-drawn to favour the interests of certain developers,” FAA’s statement concluded.

Any comments?
If you wish your comments to be published in our Letters pages please click button below.
Please write a contact number and a postal address where you may be contacted.

All the interviews from Reporter on MaltaToday's YouTube channel.

EDITORIAL

INTERVIEW