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Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar is extremely concerned about the destruction of much of the Qormi Armoury caused by a series of planning applications submitted to MEPA for the construction of garages, maisonettes and apartments. Some of these applications had been recommended for refusal by MEPA officials but the changes made to the various applications have resulted in the almost entire destruction of an extremely important historical building dating back to the period of the Knights of the Order of St John. Parts of the surviving structure have architectural elements dating back to the 17th and even the 16th century.
In recommending refusal of these permits, the MEPA Case Officer quoted the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage as stating that: 'The property in question has a high level of cultural heritage significance and it should be noted that it is in the immediate vicinity of the 18th century armoury of Qormi' and that 'proposed developments that contemplate the demolition of this property should not be granted a permit'.
It is scandalous that the DCC board not only ignored but went completely against the refusal recommended by MEPA Case Officers, the MEPA Integrated Heritage Management Unit and the Superintendent of Cultural Heritage and instead approved extensive demolition of the Armoury and the building of a highly insensitive block in what was thought to be the Armoury garden.
In addition to all the infringements of MEPA regulations listed by the Case Officer, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar points to several other glaring abuses in these cases. The fact that the time of the processing of the all-important Outline Permit, the architect who submitted the application sat on both the DCC C and the Heritage Advisory Committee, both of which vetted this case, is a glaring conflict of interest.
At the time of the application these sites were within the Urban Conservation Area, however since the revision of the Local Plans, the demarcation line now skirts exactly around them.
FAA asks why the Heritage Advisory Committee washed its hands of the case, instead of doing its duty and demanding to know by what criteria the oldest and most significant scheduled buildings were excluded from the protection zone which surrounds them! Since this also happened in Milner Street, Sliema and other localities, it would appear that in places the Local Plans were re-drawn to favour the interests of certain developers.
In addition, FAA has traced instances of lack of information or incorrect information being supplied to MEPA in these applications, including misrepresentation of the original building, which led to the destruction of protected architectural features such as arches not indicated by the architect. This violates preservation regulations and would never normally be allowed to ordinary applicants.
FAA maintains that the processing of applications at MEPA has been perverted, and thus, these permits being issued as recently as 2007 and the 2008 pre-election period are warped.
FAA calls on the Prime Minister and MEPA to order a full enquiry into the relevant planning applications PA 003261/04, PA 03263/04, PA 03848/04, PA 02848/06 and PA 02397/07 and to publish the findings including the DCC's reasons for granting permission for such development.
CAPTION : The Qormi Urban Conservation area indicated by blue arrows : purposely re-drawn to skirt the oldest buildings?
FAA
June
2009