3 May 2007 Rating 11% No Comment  

Alternattiva Demokratika was asked to intervene in order to safeguard the village core of Xewkija way back in 2005. AD supported the local and foreign residents who had invested their energy, time and money to restore such old properties in Xewkija. These residents are now faced with the threat that their neighbourhood will be demolished and that this unique heritage will be lost once and for all. Following an objection by AD Gozo Regional Committee, MEPA has said that the DCC has approved demolition of the existing building in the village core of Xewkija, specifically in Triq San Gwann, and particularly Pa 1570/06. If demolition of the building at site PA 1570/06 is permitted, this will entail the demolition/damage of a scheduled 2 wall as explained below and will therefore run counter to policy UCO 12 and will definitely not be contributing to the enhancement of 'listed buildings'. Rather than demolishing completely, local authorities should educate these people that they can invest in their properties by actually restoring the place and not by building more chunks of flats! It is becoming even more evident that tourists and Maltese visiting Gozo are charmed by its patrimony and characteristics. Let's not now destroy this economic income for present and future Gozitan workers in the tourism sector. By allowing such permits to destroy the character of the village cores in Gozo, MEPA is contradicting its own policies: POLICY BEN 1: Development will not normally be permitted if the proposal is likely to have a deleterious impact on existing or planned adjacent uses because of visual intrusion, noise, vibration, atmospheric pollution, unusually high traffic generation, unusual operating times, or any other characteristic which in the opinion of the Planning Authority would constitute bad neighborliness. POLICY BEN 2: Development will not normally be permitted if, in the opinion of the Planning Authority, it is incompatible with the good urban design, natural heritage, and environmental characteristics of existing or planned adjacent uses, and is unlikely to maintain the good visual integrity of the area in which it is located. There will be a presumption against development which does not generally observe the design guidelines issued by the Planning Authority for built-up areas. POLICY UCO 13: Wherever possible, by control or positive intervention, buildings of architectural, historical, and townscape importance, gardens, and other areas of architectural or historical interest will be conserved. Permission for PA 1570/06 should be refused since this application runs counter to the Structure plan policies listed below: POLICY UCO 7: Listed buildings in Urban Conservation Areas will be graded as Grades 1, 2, or 3 as follows: Grade 2: Buildings of some architectural or historical interest or which contribute to the visual image of an Urban Conservation Area. Permission to demolish such buildings will not normally be given. Alterations to the interior will be allowed if proposed to be carried out sensitively and causing the least detriment to the character and architectural homogeneity of the building. The demolition of this building as per PA 1570/06 will mean that possible demolition of part of a scheduled Grade 2 wall which is clearly indicated on the MEPA MAP server forms both part of the site at PA1570/06 and also of the scheduled grade2 area outlined in blue comprising of an entire farmhouse, its grounds and boundary walls as well as the walls of the alley leading to it. POLICY UCO 12: 1. There will be a continuing commitment to the enhancement of Conservation Areas, listed buildings, and structures of outstanding architectural or historical interest, by means of promoting restoration, good street furniture design, landscaping, and finding new uses for vacant and underused buildings. Where appropriate, grants will be made available to carry out this enhancement work through a Land Tribunal and Trust. The�photograph�at�the�top�of�this�article�shows the house on the left, the remissa and the alley wall, all are Grade 2. The house to be demolished under PA1570 is visible and includes the wall perpendicular to and abutting the remissa and the adjoining room.