The three eNGOs within the Coalition for Gozo, have said that they are “extremely alarmed” by the recommendation in front of the Planning Board to approve a block of flats (PA/05562/21) in Xaghra.

The proposed development is located in the protected scheduled setting of Ta’ Kola Windmill and also within the Area of Archaeological Influence of Ggantija Temples.

The coalition, in a joint statement pointed out that “this development, if approved, will set a dangerous precedent for an entire neighbourhood that forms part of the cultural landscape and setting of three top heritage sites: the temples, the windmill, and the Xaghra Circle.”

This neighbourhood of two-storey townhouses also forms part of the cultural skyline of Xaghra, which in turn forms part of the visual integrity of Ggantija Temples and Ta’ Kola Windmill, it said.

The coalition, which is made up of NGOs – Din l-Art Helwa Ghawdex, Ghawdix and Wirt Ghawdex, stressed that these characteristics are also part of the intangible cultural heritage, which holds value in its own right as part of the nation’s cultural identity, and that is part of the context through which the Ggantija Temples and Ta Kola Windmill are experienced.

Such context and values, including the intangible cultural heritage, are protected in planning policies, particularly in Planning Circular 3/20, the coalition said.

It explained that Planning Circular 3/20 was formulated in May of 2020 with the intention of preventing the kind of development that the Planning Authority is now recommending for approval tomorrow, Thursday, the 4th of May.

“The Circular introduced the concept of context and setting, and we deplore that the Planning Authority and the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage have ignored relevant policies in the assessments,” the coalition said.

“We note with deep disappointment and dismay that the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, which is supposed to be the guardian of the nation’s heritage, has not opposed the four-storey block of flats that will be decided on Wednesday, that is clearly in breach of various policies, and which will have a negative impact on the windmill and the wider setting.

“We feel that the Superintendence took a position on the development after making only a superficial and narrow consideration of the impact of the development,” the coalition said.

The Coalition for Gozo went on to say that it “deplores that the Planning Authority and Superintendence did not take into account the cumulative impact of this development. This development proposal cannot be seen in isolation because of the precedent it will set that will lead to the destruction of the cultural landscape and cultural skyline.”

The coalition also noted that the Court of Appeal has laid down landmark judgements that revoked permits of developments of some of the same policies.

“Moreover, the Chamber of Architects (Kamra tal-Periti) has last February issued Directive 01/23, which instructed architects to take into account the context on height of buildings in the buffer zone of Neolithic temples. We support that directive. Unfortunately, the directive seems to have fallen on deaf ears,” it said.

The coalition concluded by calling on the Planning Board to “heed planning policies and Court judgements and refuse the permit for this block of flats. The Planning Authority cannot continue to act with institutional impunity in defiance of court teachings.”

1,800 objections were generated against the application which is to build a block of 24 apartments overlooking Ggantija World Heritage Site.

The SCH initially emphasised that “the site in question is within Ggantija Area of Archaeological Importance and within 30m of the Grade 1 Mithna Ta’ Kola. The site is also within 260m of Ggantija World heritage Site. Any development that may eventually be approved at this location is not to negatively impact the perception of the scheduled windmill or Ggantija.”

However, seven months later, the Superintendence declared that “the photomontages do not indicate that the proposed development will have a significant impact on the perception of the scheduled windmill.”

File photo

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