From Dr R. Bondin

Some months ago I wrote an article in your newspaper about a project to transform what is known as the Bishop’s Palace (in St Ursula Street, Valletta) into offices and residences and how this project did not respect the importance of this heritage. This drama has continued and has only got worse as MEPA ignores all the signs and just approves all that is being done.

In the first place I had thought that in this democratic country there has to be a difference between the judge and the “accused”. MEPA allowed the developer to choose the person who would monitor this project. This person, who I highly respect as an art historian, cannot with due respect monitor architectural works.

The story became even darker when MEPA realized that the approved permit lacked a lot of important detail, that the plans before the development were not approved as is normally done, and that when the Enforcement Officer visited the site the information as to what was approved was not clear at all. MEPA’s DCC then asked the developer to present a fresh application with corrected plans. This application is now being processed! In the meantime of course the project is moving at full speed and the developer is ignoring the specific requisites of the original permit, including for instance the use of bricks when these were not specifically allowed, the hacking of all walls and the removal of the mortar joint so that it will now be made to look like a “traditional farmhouse”, and the brushing of the façade when this should have been restored.

It is not in my nature to speak about individual permit applications but I have personally stayed out of any discussion on this one as the house is directly opposite mine. But I cannot stand the fact that in spite of what has been published, in spite of numerous reports about what is happening (and not only by me) the work goes on regardless. And this in a house which MEPA itself had decided should be scheduled as Grade A, which means that no changes at all can be made. I presume that MEPA is allowing the project to go through before formalising this scheduling.

Ray Bondin

VALLETTA