The St Julian’s local council has decided to drop the Balluta Square project, giving in to the residents’ outrage and concern over the planned development.

Details of the project were given at a public meeting at Le Meridien Hotel on Friday, when residents did not mince their views of the development, leaving the council with no choice but to abandon it.

In a statement yesterday, the local council said councillors unanimously decided against the project after Friday’s meeting.

The local council had proposed digging up Balluta Square to build a nine-storey underground car park.

Residents complained strongly that building a car park would attract more traffic to the area and criticised the council for not having consulted with the public at the beginning of the planning process.

They also expressed concern that the historic square would lose its character as a result of the development.

The proposed development was also shot down by Alternattiva Demokratika (AD) and Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA).

FAA said the square was established almost a century ago and it is one of the few open spaces available to residents at St Julian’s.

AD said that Balluta Square is unique and must be preserved. The green party said the square should remain untouched, and more oak trees (ballut) should be planted to replace those that died or were chopped down over the years.

Ballut gave the square and the locality its name and FAA said too many protected trees in the area have been cut down to make way for large-scale developments along Balluta valley – projects which only took into account commercialisation, and failed miserably to consider any social and ecological negative impacts.

FAA also pointed out that Balluta Buildings, situated in the same square, are one of Malta’s finest architectural landmarks and a scheduled Grade 1 monument.