The Planning Authority issued two statements this week.

The first was to announce that nine British-era coastal batteries across Malta have been designated as Grade 1 buildings, with an additional two classified as Grade 2.

These classifications aim to safeguard the military and defensive infrastructure and recognize the architectural and historical value of these fortifications, which reflect the political (in the region and beyond) and military climate under the British Rule from the 1860s onwards.

The Grade 1 sites are the Delle Grazie Battery (Xghajra), St. Peter's Battery (Kalkara), Wolseley Battery and St. Paul's Battery (Marsaxlokk), Għargħur High Angle Battery (Għargħur), Misraħ Strejnu Anti-Aircraft Battery (Żejtun), San Giovanni QF Battery (Swieqi), Wardija Battery (San Pawl il-Baħar), and the Żonqor Battery (Marsascala). Two Sliema batteries, Cambridge Battery and Garden Battery, have been classified as Grade 2 sites.

The second statement was to say that it will be funding the reconstruction of a historically significant rural footbridge in Wied il-Mġarr, Għajnsielem.

Through the PA's Development Planning Fund, this project will bring back to life the iconic arched bridge that once spanned the valley, facilitating essential local passage until its collapse in the 1950s. The valley of Wied il-Mġarr, the largest of Għajnsielem's three valleys, stretches from the village's eastern bounds to the shores of Mġarr harbour.

With regard to the classification of the British-era batteries, the PA is protecting historic places that in the past served their purpose as part of Malta's defence mechanism in times when Malta was part of the British Empire.

As to the bridge in Gozo, the PA is rebuilding a structure that also had its significant importance to the people of Gozo for many years, and which collapsed more than 70 years ago and was never reconstructed.

In both instances the PA is doing the right thing.

It is however contradictory for the PA to then approve projects which go against the same principles, not to mention the other instances when it gives the green light to proposed developments that raise public anger, especially those that take up the few open spaces and green areas that Malta still has.

The Planning Authority should be consistent in its duties. It has been accused of just being an authority that rubber-stamps mega-projects or one that does not give attention to what really should be its remit. In a recent interview with The Malta Independent on Sunday, the president of the Malta Chamber of Planners Bjorn Bonello said that the PA has lost all credibility when it comes to urban planning.

Urban planning has been thrown to the dogs, he said. Much of the blame is put on developers, he added. But they are free to propose anything. It is up to the Planning Authority "to function as a referee and make decisions".

"If I am a developer and I say that I want to construct 20 floors in the middle of Lija, I can say I have the finances to complete the project because I am in a democratic country. It is the Planning Authority's duty to say no," he had said, as he remarked that the referee elsewhere is strong while in Malta it is "almost non-existent".

In other words, the PA should not be afraid to turn down projects that cause more distress.