Just consider this quote from the UK Sunday Times Style magazine, describing the rise of the children of the posh middle classes against over-development in the British countryside, the protests against world poverty, and other previously perceived as uncool pursuits. “Middle England is taking up the cause again because of the scale of the threat of unnecessary development. If we want our children to enjoy the countryside, we need to do something about it, otherwise Britain will look like LA”. And Malta will look like Benidorm, and Gozo like Malta, I might add!

Will the same happen in Malta, or will we have to wait another 20 years before our young middle class kids develop a bit of spirit and conscience? Will those middle and upper class people who have recently taken up these causes (like Bono, Bob Geldof, the Goldsmith heirs and heiresses, Brian Ferry’s son in the House of Commons who have made the uncool cool) be mirrored here? In other words, will the children or grandchildren of the current wealthy be the ones who will lead the pressure to stop over development? So far, the middle classes in Malta have been relatively silent and not too angry. Is this about to change?

Could the proposed further development of Ta’ Cenc be something that will bring not only Sannat residents, but Malta and Gozo quietly together against such projects? Now, I don’t think we should be too “holier than thou” about this. There already is development there. There already is a very successful and very popular hotel and some lovely homes. In other words, the original residents are complaining, but it is clear they are also protecting their own interests. If we had the same rigorous environmental standards many years ago, Ta’ Cenc and its surrounding villas may never have been developed at all.

But now we know what we know and cannot ignore what we know. The environment matters. We cannot develop certain areas anymore. So although there is a strong dose of NIMBYism – “not in my back yarditis” in those who are currently campaigning, or writing in letters about the proposed development of Ta’ Cenc, their campaign happens to be in all our interests.

So it is definitely our collective concern to protest and stop this proposal. Ta’ Cenc is all our back garden and we all should do everything we can to say no to further development in this area. It was a little easier to drum up popular support against the Verdala golf course and development. Verdala is in the heart of Malta. We pass by it on our way to Mdina.

Ta’ Cenc is on the edge of Gozo. Few enjoy it. It’s not familiar enough to the public. It has though been very familiar to the middle classes who have enjoyed the hotel, together with a certain class of foreign holidaymaker for many years.

We know how beautiful it is, how sacred it should be to us and that we should work hard to protect it. It shouldn’t be an Alternattiva Demokratika cause. It shouldn’t be the cause of a small party that will not even get one seat in the next election. It should be a mainstream issue and a mainstream concern of all of us who recognise Gozo’s beauty.

Let’s keep it that way. Countryside-wise, Gozo is almost Malta’s unique selling point. There are of course still a few patches of lovely countryside in Malta, but you have to look for them – you have to know where they are. Most visitors who come here on a package never see any of our countryside, because it is not at all obvious any more.

Gozo is different. There still is countryside between the towns and villages, whereas Malta is now just a series of ribbons of development, ribbons which are growing thicker, fatter and nastier by the year despite all the policies, rules and regulations which are emitted from Mepa.

Parliament should take a stand too. Land in Ta’ Cenc is sacred and should not be touched any further. It is almost scandalous that we are even trying to further develop that area. When this blessed rain stops, take your children for a walk there, and ask yourselves and them whether it makes any sense, whether there is any need to build it up.

Then write to your MP and ask the many “hims” and the few “hers” to take a stand. For once, our MPs should not only concern themselves with their own constituency, but with the whole of Malta and Gozo. Malta is now one town with a few choice back gardens-cum- national parks.

They must never be touched again.