Din l-Art Ħelwa on Friday expressed its profound dismay and outrage at the shocking decision by the Planning Authority to sanction 20 illegally-built padel courts on Manoel Island and then further reward the developer by granting permission for a further 10 courts on the same site.

This decision flies in the face of the Government's repeated promises that Manoel Island would be returned to the people and transformed into a national park, the NGO said. These promises have fast become a hollow pre-election pledge, with Manoel Island being handed over once again to private commercial interests, this time under the guise of sporting facilities.  This is nothing short of a betrayal of the public trust and a squandering of the €43 million of taxpayers' money that was used to buy back the lease of Manoel Island from MIDI earlier this year; and now effectively used to bail out and reward a developer's (Sharlon Pace) illegal business venture.

Instead of ordering the complete removal of this unauthorised development, the Planning Authority chose to reward this blatant disregard for the rule of law by sanctioning the illegal structures and even approving their expansion. The paltry €25,000 "fine" imposed on the developer simply adds insult to injury for every law-abiding citizen and taxpayer. This attitude continues to encourage a disgraceful culture of "build now, sanction later".

The sanctioning of the padel courts right at the entrance to Manoel Island, has completely jeopardised the possibility of having a comprehensive and holistic master plan for the development of the park and its entrance, the NGO said.

Din l-Art Ħelwa will be lodging a formal appeal against this decision.