Qala residents are up in arms over a development application for a souvenir shop at Hondoq ir-Rummien that has been filed by one of the owners of Ta’ Frenc Real Estate.
They fear that, after having narrowly dodged a bullet when the highly controversial Qala Creek development application was recently rejected, other developers have now set their sights on a different part of the bay.
Speaking to The Malta Independent Sunday yesterday, Qala deputy mayor Paul Buttigieg confirmed that all is not well with the prospect, and warned that the development, if approved, may be just the beginning.
He also said that the council will be meeting on Monday to discuss the situation.
The then owner of what had been an agricultural store was granted a permit for an extension in 1994, against the advice of the Case Officer involved. It is for timber paving around what would become a new souvenir shop located in an ODZ area, and for carrying out alterations and additions. It was lodged with the Planning Authority on 12 July 2016.
The application was filed by Angelo Cefai, one of the owners of Ta’ Frenc Real Estate, on behalf of AAC Ltd, a company owned by Ta’ Frenc Real Estate Ltd, which owns the land in question, as well as much of the surrounding ODZ area.
Detractors fear that once a souvenir shop is permitted, the development will be extended with a change of use to sell drinks and food and, possibly, a restaurant in the future. Some people are concerned that a road and car park will eventually be created to provide access to the shop.
People have taken to Facebook to vent their outrage at the application. “Souvenir shop, my foot. Will be ‘upgraded’ to a hotel with all amenities in no time,” one commentator observed. “Leave Hondoq the way it is. We have enough souvenir shops in Gozo,” reads another comment.
“No way – this is how things start. You give one permit and it will end up like Xlendi and Marsalforn. It will end up a commercial village,” another added.
In the words of another objector: “If we can’t get in through the door we’ll try to get in through the window! Just unbelievable…hope it doesn’t take another 14 years to throw this application in the garbage.”
One particularly irate commentator said: “This is nothing but a scam. I believe the people of Gozo are smarter than this. Leave the beloved bay alone once and for all. Hondoq Bay is the only pristine area left around the island.”