Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar has said that while it welcomes the call by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage (SCH) for a “freeze” on the Ggantija permit pending a Heritage Impact Assessment, “this is not the assurance that the Maltese public needs and deserves.”

FAA stressed the point that “not only would a ‘freeze’ be just a temporary suspension, but the fact is that a ‘freeze’ of an approved permit does not exist in planning law.”

“This casts doubts on the SCH’s declaration,” FAA said, “especially in the light of its extreme inconsistency regarding this case, as the SCH had initially recommended refusal of the permit on many grounds, including the total demolition of the existing building, rock cutting and the overall height.”

However, FAA pointed out that “after a few tweaks to the plans,” the Superintendence declared that along with Heritage Malta, it had “no objection to the volume and massing of the building as proposed in the latest drawings.”

“Such U-turns regarding a UNESCO World Heritage Site do not inspire confidence in the authorities concerned, therefore Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, together with the Ramblers’ Association of Malta and Ghawdix, will be pursuing its legal action, and is in the process of weighing up all options, as it maintains that only full and final revocation of this permit will protect the Ggantija World Heritage Site,” it said.

“This is bound to be a long-drawn out legal battle,” FAA said, while thanking those who have already contributed, the NGO appeals to others who love Malta’s heritage to donate to the NGO legal fund by clicking here.

Photo: FAA

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