A Sannat resident was manhandled and physically evicted from Ta’ Cenc, Alternattiva Demokratika has claimed.

In a statement, the party said that it received reports regarding the incident. The owners called on the man’s disagreement with their development plans as justification, the AD said.

“Whether or not a member of the public agrees with the proposal to build a new villa village at Ta’ Cenc is quite irrelevant to the issue of eviction,” party chairman Harry Vassallo said.

“The original grant of land, historical legal conflicts, the Structure Plan, and the owner's commitment in the present development proposal all act to ensure a right of passage and public access,” he continued.

Dr Vassallo claimed the owner has no right to decide who the public is and this eviction of a Sannat resident is in violation of the obligation to allow public access. The owner is not entitled to discriminate and select among the persons who exercise this right in good faith, he said.

He declared that AD will be following developments in defence of public access to this area which is national importance due to its natural and historical assets.