Mellieha village is beautiful with its natural valleys and picturesque views, so it is no wonder that it is popular with both locals and tourists.

Over the years, buildings started going up on the valley slopes and now these have gone up, up and up and reached the top. One area where the buildings have not over reached and one can still enjoy the open space and breathtaking views is Triq l-Gherien. From this area one can still see as far as Gozo, including Mellieha Bay and Comino and enjoy the open space still left along this panoramic road. The one good thing here is that planning permits ensured that the buildings rising from the valley were controlled so as not to suffocate the area on the hilltop. Existing buildings in the form of bungalows are now integrated in the natural line of the landscape with the rising buildings of a particular hotel complex only reaching up to the level of the road surface. But not for long if developers have their way!

The owner of this particular hotel has applied to MEPA to construct three additional floors above the bungalows, MEPA application number PA03206. I have helped residents with a petition against this proposal, which petition was sent to MEPA and to the Prime Minister. We collected nearly 200 signatures in just a few hours one evening. From my contacts with the people I realised that Mellieha residents are suffering in silence. Some told me in whispers that certain developers can do anything they want in Mellieha. I said: “That’s not fair!” and their reply was imma hawn hekk, min ghandu s-sahha jaghmel li jrid. This is so sad. Please do not allow Mellieha beauty spots to be ruined for ever for the sake of a few individuals and upsetting thousands of locals and tourists.

I appeal to the authorities, particularly to MEPA, the environment minister and the minister responsible for tourism and to the local council of Mellieha to stop issuing more permits to build in this area. Keep it as it is now. Let the people, now and in the future, enjoy the scarce open spaces that still exist in Mellieha!

Joe Pisani

ZEBBUG