I refer to the letter from Darrell Pace (TMID, 23 June) concerning his and the government’s view that their inactivity over the Ramla l-Hamra development permit is justified because they have confidence in the appeals procedures already in place.

I wish that the common populace could share their confidence. I am not personally aware of any third party appeal that has been successful. Perhaps Mr Pace could inform us how many third party appeals there were in, say 2006, and how many of these succeeded.

Just for the record he could also give the number of developer appeals to initially refused permits, and how many of these were successful. I think that the common populace, given sight of these numbers, would understand why his confidence is not well-placed.

Graham Petley

Mosta