Ekologika, the alliance made up of various civil society organisations which oppose the proposed development at Ta' Cenc, said it disagrees with certain proposals made by Wirt Ghawdex.

Wirt Ghawdex, a Gozitan heritage organisation, has criticised certain aspects of the proposed development but has pronounced itself in favour of others such as the development construction of bungalows on the right-hand side of the main pathway.

Ekologika said it believed that this could pave the way for further development - including that of a golf course - on ecologically sensitive land.

The alliance added that the proposed development will cause irreversible ecological harm to the garigue, including unique species, reduce the little natural landscape left for recreation, promote a type of development that has already harmed the country and violate Malta Environment and Planning Authority policies.

For the sake of transparency and credibility, the ramblers association invited Wirt Ghawdex to declare publicly its aims and objectives and give more details such as the names of the signatories of the declaration on Ta' Cenc.

Such transparency was called for because of the very sensitive nature of the Ta' Cenc promontory, an integral part of the Gozitan heritage that needed to be conserved, the association said.