Please join residents, local councils and NGOs in objecting to further ODZ development at Wied Għomor. The area is characterised be an onslaught of development applications. The PN believes that the valley should be protected, and the Minister for the Environment said that he is looking into the calls for protection which has so far been ignored by the PL Government. Various applications were stopped when joint coalitions between residents, local councils, NGOs and political parties were formed. Personally I have been active to protect this valley since the 1990s.
One pending application is the following, and you can send your objection to the Planning Authority by 29 May.
PA 2752/20 - To link two existing dwellings, and to change the use from two separate (MTA host family licensed) Class 1 dwellings to one Class 3A guest house with 11 guest bedrooms and one 2 bedroomed guest apartment.
The site in question refers to a hotel which was operating as guesthouse without a permit - developers have applied again as their application was withdrawn. Please scroll below to copy+paste objection to the Planning Authority.
Background info here:
https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/environment/townscapes/96858/st_julians_valley_ruins_to_get_green_light_for_guesthouse#.XslArTPis2w
https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/wied-ghomor-guesthouse-application-withdrawn.734155
https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/why-deny-wied-ghomor-protection-minister-asks.783197
https://netnews.com.mt/2020/03/31/wied-ghomor-ghandu-jibqa-protett-pn/
https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2018-07-30/local-news/Permit-for-Wied-Ghomor-development-residence-refused-6736194220
SEND YOUR OBJECTION TO PA 2752/20 - GUESTHOUSE:
Objections to the Planning Authority may be submitted until Friday 29 May 2020. You can copy + paste objection below and send via email to representations@pa.org.mt
To: representations@pa.org.mt
PA 2752/20: Wied Ghomor
Change of Use from two dwellings to Guesthouse
Kindy consider the following as my objection to this application;
I contend that in the interest of
the conservation and protection of this protected valley, WIED GHOMOR, and its
special status as an area of scientific and ecological value, this application
should be refused.
The introduction of Rural Policy
ad Guidelines 2014 emphasises our obligation to protect and preserve sites as
is WIED GHOMOR, a valley which has become extremely significant and sensitive
to the nation.
The site in question is located
Outside the Development Zone, and therefore any permissible development is
limited to that listed in the Rural Policy and Design Guidelines 2014 document.
This document allows for the possibility of a specific list of development
typologies in ODZ areas, all clearly related to farming and agricultural uses;
Farm dwellings for livestock farmers and arable farmers; Livestock farm units;
Slaughter Houses; Agricultural Stores; Greenhouses; Reservoirs; Conversion of
land for agricultural use; Rubble walls; Access Paths; PV panels; Wineries;
Olive Oil production; Bee Keeping; Farm Retail Outlets; Visitor Attractions
within farming enterprises; Animal Sanctuaries; Stables; Dwellings. Nowhere in
this document is there any reference to Commercial Development, apart from that
related to agricultural and farm uses.
The proposed Guest House is
clearly a Commercial development which is not permissible under PA regulations
for Outside the Development Zone. ODZ areas and in particular valleys are to be
protected from Commercial Development.
The proposed development will
have an unacceptable negative effect on the environment and landscape thus
meriting a refusal.
The wild fauna, flora and species
and their habitats would be damaged, disrupted and also detrimental to their
existence in many cases which in time will have an adverse effect on us not to
mention the increase in light and sound pollution which comes with the
increased number of people coming and going to and from the guesthouse to the
detriment of the over-developed conurbation of Swieqi, St Julians and San
Gwann. These localities do not deserve the spread of urbanisation.
SPED Policy RO1.7 emphasises the
safeguarding of the distinctiveness of rural areas as is WIED GHOMOR and
promotes the control of “the cumulative effect of rural development."
It is a fact that the proposed
guesthouse will have a negative effect on the special qualities of ODZ Wied
Ghomor. The surrounding community of St
Julians, Swieqi and San Gwann certainly do not require another Guest House but
rather require more quiet and peaceful open spaces
St Julians does not deserve more
urban sprawl especially within ODZ WIED GHOMOR.
I ask the PA keep me updated with
the submissions to this application and that I be informed of the date and time
of the hearing for decision.
