The Ghajnsielem Belvedere which provides breathtaking views of the Mgarr harbour was breached by works on the Grand Hotel extension last week.
Part of the dividing wall between the Belvedere and the extension of the Grand Hotel has collapsed and an unsightly wall was constructed in front of a bench in the Belvedere itself.
The dividing wall which collapsed included a plaque commemorating the inauguration of the Belvedere by Prime Minister George Borg Olivier.
Mayor Fracis Cauchi told MaltaToday that “the demolition of part of this dividing wall was something accidental in view of the large change in levels between the Belvedere and applicant’s site.”
The mayor also told MaltaToday that the commemoration plague has been removed by the council workers about four months ago and at the moment is being kept at the council’s premises.
“As soon as the dividing wall is reconstructed this plague is going to be put in its original place,” Cauchi told MaltaToday.
But residents who spoke to this newspaper insist that they saw the wall being pulled down by Said Constructions Ltd last Wednesday in full public view.
They also claim that the two remaining carob trees were also uprooted. Residents speaking to MaltaToday suspect that the developer is encroaching on public property.
But the mayor insists that the application regarding extension works on Grand Hotel Mgarr Gozo does not encroach on public property.
The developer promised that the belvedere will not be encroached in any way. “The belvedere will be restored to the public and even improved,” developer Silvio Rapa told MaltaToday.
According to the mayor there is no danger that any parts of the public property will be encroached upon, in view that the two ends of the party wall are still in place.
The Lands Department has been informed and its representative will be carrying out a site visit in the coming week.
But Rapa also insists that the unsightly wall is a temporary safety measure. The mayor, himself a MEPA official, agrees.
“While construction works were being carried out applicant had to construct a temporary retaining wall in the Belvedere area to eliminate any possible danger for the public. The Local Council has appointed its own architect to prepare a report on the matter. Works on this part of the site have been stopped until the site inspection by the Lands Department representative is carried out.”
Residents have also complained that the mayor did not give them any information when they expressed their concerns to him.
“The residents have a right to be fully informed about how they are going to be affected by the proliferation of construction taking place on Gozo. AD Gozo Regional Committee is committed to continue supporting Gozitans in their fight to safeguard their island home from private greed. This also shows that AD has Gozo at heart and cares for it and all the Gozitans,” said Victor Galea, AD Gozo Regional Committee spokesperson.

jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt