From Ms J. Carter

The monster that is the Hondoq development application has again reared its ugly head. This Goliath was vanquished a few years ago by the people of Qala with a resounding vote of 85 per cent against but now it has returned with a vengeance.

If this project is allowed, the peace and tranquillity of Qala will be ruined forever. The quaint narrow village streets and square will be choked by fumes from the developer’s trucks and pedestrians will take their lives in their hands just going about their daily lives. Forget about sitting outside any of the restaurants and bars or attending an external church function in the square: the fumes and the dangerous traffic will soon drive you away.

To escape from all this you might go down to Hondoq ir-Rummien Bay where the clean blue waters lap at the small, safe bathing beach and there was plenty of parking, albeit a little scruffy and unkempt, but nonetheless a popular place with tourists and locals to come for a swim and sunbathe and even a cool drink and a pizza.

If the marina development is allowed there will no longer be clean, clear water, just the murky, oily mess that can be seen any day at Mgarr. Would you let your children swim in the harbour? I don’t think so. It is complete nonsense to claim that the development will have zero impact on swimming and the beach when common sense tells you the opposite.

At a time when tourism is declining and with no revival in sight, when hotels are closing and businesses failing, does it make any sense at all to allow the building of a hotel, shops, restaurants and multi-ownership apartments (time-share by another name) and in so doing ruin yet another piece of Gozo’s beleaguered coastline?

This project has not yet been given the go-ahead. Despite rumours to the contrary it can still be opposed. It is not an insurmountable obstacle if the residents act with one voice.

People of Qala, put aside your political, religious and personal differences and rise up against the greater threat to your village and its surroundings; to your lifestyle and your heritage. Once Hondoq is lost it can never be reclaimed and Gozo is too small to allow itself the luxury of making development mistakes.

Planning and development should not be allied to politics, damage to the environment and heritage affects us all regardless of party.

Don’t just let it happen! Act now and help stop the proposed destruction!

Jenny Carter