A press conference held by a few NGOs to protest against the revision of the development boundaries yesterday, turned sour when a small group of Mgarr residents started hurling insults and shouting at Ramblers Association president Lino Bugeja as he proceeded to make his statement.

The conference was held in sweltering heat on the Mgarr church parvis without the slightest bit of shade and with the speakers seated at tables at the top of the flight of steps, with journalists having to look up into the glaring sunshine for good measure. Add to that a distorted speaker sound and the general commotion created and you have a recipe for a flop, which is what the activity certainly was.

It appears that some residents who own the land in front of the parvis are furious at what they perceive to be a government climb down when the tract was eventually withdrawn from the new development boundaries after significant pressure from several quarters.

Placards held by some attendees included statements such as “Zarma George – Join the Ramblers” and “Lm3 million worth of flats empty in Zebbiegh”.

However, it was obvious that not a single Mgarr resident attended the protest, most of the village is filled with contractors, builders and other people employed in the trade; it is also heavily Nationalist.

Flimkien Ghall Ambjent Ahjar spokesperson Astrid Vella said the association was not against all development but took exception to those areas that were surrounded by countryside. Friends of the Earth spokesperson Dr Edward Mallia said that there is no justification for more land to be included in the new development zones as there is more than ample building stock available.