Twenty-nine Bahar ic-Caghaq residents yesterday filed a judicial protest in court to complain about the inclusion of a piece of land in the locality in the extension of the development boundaries.

The residents filed the protest against the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Environment and Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino.

The residents said that the land in question should not have been included in the extension since it did not satisfy the requirements established by the Cabinet of Ministers to see what land qualifies for inclusion.

They said that one of the criteria established by the Cabinet, was that for land to be included it had to have three of its four sides adjacent to urbanised zones. However, they said, this piece of land only had two sides adjacent to urbanised areas and thus should not qualify for inclusion.

The residents said part of the land had a supply of water and was on lease for agricultural purposes. Moreover, they said it contained a number of indigenous protected trees.

They said they submitted their objections to Mepa but despite having been submitted by hand, no receipt had been issued.

They said Mepa had ignored their submissions and it had also ignored the criteria established by the Cabinet on which land should be included in the extension of the development zones.

They said the value of their property had decreased as a result of the inclusion of this land and added that Mepa had acted illegally and abusively.

They said they were holding the authorities liable for damages and warned of possible legal action in this regard.

Dr Patrick Galea filed the writ.