From Mr D. Youngman

I felt that your article of 6 April entitled “Deluxe holiday accommodation launched in Gozo” fell short of your usually high journalistic standards. Its glowing praise and uncritical approach failed to give a balanced picture. I hope that you will allow me to correct this.

This is, in fact, a highly problematical development. The original DCC board refused permission and three case officers’ reports opposed granting permission. Upon reconsideration, the main Mepa board granted permission. An appeal against this is outstanding. I am advised that no such third party appeal has ever succeeded, so unless the scales of justice in this area are suddenly recalibrated, you will not find a Mepa enforcement team on your doorstep intent on demolishing your holiday let.

There has been a very high environmental cost to this development. A beautiful corner of Gozo has been destroyed by a most unsympathetic building – the largest building in the hamlet. Unlike the other buildings that generally follow the contour of the land, it juts out on its promontory, dominating the landscape from many angles. A plethora of arched doors and windows is totally out of keeping with the surrounding houses and the large area of glass will be equally incongruous. You are promised “beautifully landscaped Mediterranean gardens”. At the moment, all that is growing is weeds and all of the tiny landscaped area is “hard”. There was going to be a garden at the north end; so sorry, the developers have now applied for an extra house or, failing that, an extension of the existing end house in this area. But all is not lost – our garden looks quite nice along your eastern boundary.

Even from a reading of the article it is ludicrous to suggest that this terrace complements the style of old Gozitan farmhouses; “pseudo-rustic” is the most accurate description I can think of.

Amazingly, the plans show that there is no car park and only an inadequate turning area (by Mepa standards). Given that the approach alley is only 2.3 metres wide, and that only the three-bedroom house has direct access to the turning area, make sure that your luggage has good wheels.

Total privacy is the promise. Even within the complex you will find that your neighbours overlook your pool area. You also overlook and are overlooked by our pool area, raised terrace and by a neighbour’s terrace. We look forward to a close relationship with all the occupants of the upstairs rear bedroom of unit four, as our respective windows are illegally close together.

Tranquillity was a major reason for our coming to this part of the island. We have had over a year of breakers, saws, cutters, bulldozers, and so on. You will only have to put up with your neighbours and our grand-

children, unless they start work on that extra house during your stay.

Please come to Gozo for your holiday, but if you value the environment and seek privacy or tranquillity, then you might be happier in more sympathetic accommodation.

David Youngman

GHAMMAR