Destruction of Mellieha

I write ostensibly in support of Evarist Bartolo’s article in MaltaToday (‘Making Malta liveable’, 21 August) and in particular the unbridled annihilation of his birth village: Mellieha! Now we are all fully aware of what started this wanton destruction of our ‘fair land’ but aiding and abetting this tragedy is equally culpable and unfathomable!

However, perhaps he is unaware of the myriad of planning applications of development – leaving aside the major projects currently ongoing in Mellieha and its immediate environs – currently in situ in the village core (many of which I have lodged objections to with the PA, or rather registered a ‘representation’ against, in that ‘authority’s’ parlance)?

These planning applications all refer to mostly perfectly structurally sound and presently inhabitable buildings, which are being demolished to make way for mostly all similar nondescript monstrosities and pretty soon his home village will be another Sliema and worse (incidentally I have had a home here for over 30 years and lived here permanently since 1999). ‘Representations’ made to the Mellieha local council as well as the PA and the Scarlet Pimpernel – a.k.a. the so-called ‘Environment Minister’ (another misnomer) – have all fallen on deaf ears, with me not even being subject to the dignity of an acknowledgment to my queries relating to profit over prevention, and how they are selling their souls and their conscience for 30 pieces of gold. 

I would suggest you check with the PA about just how many applications have been lodged with that authority in Mellieha in the past 12 months alone, to get some idea of my concern as to what annihilation (his apt description) awaits this once ‘destination of excellence’ – now confined to being a destination of destruction and an unbelievable building site. Heaven help us – as who else will?

Peter Murray 

Mellieha