From Mr J. B. Clifford

A lot has been said and written about the press conference held at Villa Bologna in Attard on 20 November. The rumours that have been circulating concerning Villa Bologna and the site adjacent to it, at the rear, truly have been included in the final draft of the Attard local plans for development and are incorporated in the building scheme for the area. This happened without the consultation required between all the parties involved in the matter. Incidentally, the Attard local council disregarded the whole affair and never took part in the whole debate about the “public open space” in Lorenzo Manche’ Street, Attard.

An application to develop part of the land in question has been lodged with the Malta Planning and Environment Authority. The target for this application, number 05878/07, is set for 3 January 2008.

Many objections have been lodged with MEPA and with the Attard local council. Obviously the residents of Lorenzo Manche’ Street are objecting to the proposed development because they were not consulted. This unique vacant site is ideal for an open-air pjazza, or square amidst a mass of buildings under construction, in this Ta’ Fgieni zone.

Both the MEPA chairman, Andrew Calleja, and the director general, Godwin Cassar, have written in the papers that no one had spoken or written during the past 11 years about the Villa Bologna scheduling and the rezoning of the “public open space” in Lorenzo Manche’ street. This is incorrect and it seems that the powers that be are not well informed.

My parents have been living in the area for the past 25 years. Over the past 12 years they have kept in touch with both MEPA and the local council about the land in question. Being very keen on the environment they always encouraged the authorities to develop this land, as it was being used as a dump, with rats roaming around in the six-foot high grass, and so on.

My parents have followed up two planning controls which were both rejected over the years. I can vouch for all this because I witnessed it with my own eyes.

I understand that the Attard local council is due to meet shortly. The deputy mayor, Charlo’ Bonnici and Ralph Cassar (Alternattiva Demokratika) will bring this sad event up for discussion. Through their objections to MEPA they have both indicated the lack of consultation in the whole process of rezoning. They are both of the same opinion that residents’ rights come first. They will both work to ensure that the residents’ fundamental rights are respected and that the right of enjoyment of their property is assured and guaranteed.

Many thanks go to both of them. Let us hope the mayor and the other councillors will follow suit.

Heartfelt thanks also go to architect Carmel Caccopardo for his continuous support.

Justin Brian Clifford

ATTARD