The owners of a plot of land which forms part of Villa Bologna yesterday filed a judicial protest against De Trafford family and filed an appeal with the Planning Appeals Board to revoke their decision to schedule their land.

The Bonnici Mallia family yesterday filed a judicial protest against the De Trafford family who are occupying the plot of land by title of temporary utile dominium for the next 40 years.

The family also filed an appeal with the Planning Appeals Board to revoke a decision taken by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority board to schedule Villa Bologna which is situated in Attard.

The De Traffords own parts of Villa Bologna, but not the land owned by the Bonnici Mallia family.

The Bonnici Mallia family said the De Traffords presented themselves as owners of their part of the property when applying for the scheduling of Villa Bologna.

On July 18, Mepa took a decision in favour of the De Traffords and scheduled Villa Bologna, including the property belonging to the Bonnici Mallia family as a Grade 1 national monument.

However, in their letter to the Appeals Board, the Bonnici Mallia’s requested a revocation of the decision saying that they were not consulted or notified about the scheduling and that, as a result, the decision, should be declared null.

Furthermore, they added, the De Traffords, had no right to apply and include their part of the land for scheduling and requested the appeals board to revoke the scheduling of their plot of land.

In the judicial letter the Bonnici Mallias called on the De Traffords to take the necessary action so that their land would no longer be scheduled saying this was prejudicial to their rights over their property.

In the writ, the Bonnici Mallias said they held the De Traffords liable in damages and added that if they did not comply, action will be taken to take back the land from

them before the 40 years elapsed.

Dr Stefano Filletti signed the writ.