Once upon a time, when London was smoky and polluted, the London Underground had a nice advertisement poster for its station at Hampstead Heath. It showed a man and boy out walking and said, “Take your Son and Heir for some Sun and Air”. Today, Hampstead Heath remains a protected green oasis, a real lung in the urban sprawl of north London.

I wonder whether the future heirs of the Ta’ Cenc developers will be able to look back and proudly say the same of their forefathers.

The EIS submitted by Real Finanz for their proposed Heritage Park and Multi-Ownership Hotel Tourism Development at Ta’ Cenc is all about:

• Significant destruction of the natural environment in the name of “development”.

• Greed and fat profits for a few at the expense of the many, who have traditionally had access to and enjoyed this beautiful area.

• Pandering to the demands of that terribly underprivileged European class, the “second homeless”.

• A grudging gesture (only as a result of external pressure) to establish a so-called “Heritage Park”, which will no doubt be designed and managed so as to minimise costs rather than maximise benefits.

• A significant expansion of a hotel that itself admits to not being the five stars it claims.

• A few long-term employment opportunities, most of which are likely to go to east Europeans, who are prepared to work for the low wages traditionally offered in the hospitality industry.

Yet it could all be so different and at the same time both profitable and sustainable. All it needs is some serious corporate environmental and social responsibility, mixed with a dose of vision and imagination.

Imagine if the objective became “The Conservation and Sustainable Management of the Ta’ Cenc Area”. You then immediately create opportunities for:

• Public private partnerships, including NGOs.

• European grants and international sponsorship.

• Sensitively designed facilities for visitors including the less able.

• Children’s environmental education and outdoor learning.

• Some real long-term job opportunities for Gozitans, particularly the young.

• Proper protection of the flora and fauna and the archaeological remains.

This can go hand in hand with upgrading the Ta’ Cenc Hotel and conference facilities since they are complementary.

I challenge the developers to propose an alternative project and business plan along these lines.

Peter Llewellyn, Eur Eng

Development Consultant

Resident of Sannat