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James Debono
With the green area opposite the Mgarr church parvis included in the new MEPA development zones, the majestic view of the so-called “muntanji Mgarrin” from the church parvis risks being obstructed or even obliterated.
The Mgarr community is up in arms against the proposal to include this zone for building development. “This is a fundamental issue for the Mgarr community. The view from the church parvis is part of our identity and should not be obstructed in any way,” says Mgarr Nationalist mayor Paul Vella.
Researcher Steve Borg, who has conducted research on oral traditions in Mgarr, points out the hills are an integral part of the collective memory of the Mgarrin.
Collectively the hills are known as “il-muntanji Mgarrin” (the Mgarr mountains), but each hill has a particular name: one is known as Ta’ Nofs Qamar, another known as Ta’ Bin Gemma, and the other as Ras il-Gebel or l-Ghasfurija.
According to the mayor, the only acceptable development on this site is that of a terraced public garden or an underground car park. “If this area was included in development schemes for this purpose we have no objections, but MEPA should clarify immediately that no building will be allowed between the Mgarr playground and existing buildings.”
MEPA has qualified the inclusion of this sensitive zone, saying that development must not rise above the lowest level of Mgarr square, and should have a “low-density nature”.
But this qualification has not allayed the fears of the Mgarrin. Mayor Paul Vella notes that the church parvis is already one floor up from the existing road and this could be interpreted as a justification for one-floor buildings on this site.
But the Malta Environment and Planning Authority refuses to commit itself on what development should take place on this site.
“At this stage we are only giving a direction for a future exercise which will be undertaken,” MEPA’s public relations officer told MaltaToday.
Asked whether MEPA excludes any building on this sensitive site, a MEPA spokesperson replied that this question is premature because the consultation exercise has yet to determine which sites will be included for development.
According to MEPA’s spokesperson the site was proposed because it fell within the cabinet criteria but more detailed land-use planning will be discussed once a decision is taken on which sites should be included in the rationalisation of development boundaries.
But Mgarr residents would like MEPA to clear this issue right now.
Edgar Sammut, one of the owners of the Tal-Barri restaurant is also concerned. “Since the 1940s, the Mgarr community has always considered this zone as a green area. We are dumbfounded by MEPA’s decision to include this area in the new scheme.”
Sammut concurs with the mayor that the only accepted development is that of a terraced public garden or a car park as requested by the council for the past years. “This land should be expropriated and the present owners should be fully compensated.”
Sources have informed MaltaToday that the petrol station’s owner Michael Galea owns part of the site in question. But according to the mayor, the Mgarr petrol station’s owner has now applied to be relocated to another site.
In 2005, MEPA had turned down an application by Michael Galea to excavate a tunnel to connect two of his properties, both located on the same site. A scrapyard, a few metres away from the Ta’ Hagrat prehistoric site, is still found in the confines of the site, despite a MEPA enforcement notice pending since 1997.
jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt
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