Joseph Portelli’s Qala ODZ pools permit revoked by the Court

On Wednesday, the court revoked the permit for swimming pools ^[1] on ODZ land in Qala by Gozitan developer Joseph Portelli, after an appeal filed by Moviment Graffitti together with the Qala Local Council.

Moviment Graffitti, writing on social media said, “we won an important court victory. The court agreed with us that the permit was given on irregular grounds by the Planning Authority, because the development clearly goes against policies regulating buildings on ODZ land.”

It argued that, “this confirms what we have been saying for a very long time: we have farcical politicians and authorities who bend over backwards to appease developers like Joseph Portelli.”

Graffitti claimed that “Joseph Portelli had even started works on these pools before the necessary permits were issued by the Planning Authority. In fact, during an interview, he had said that he carried these illegal works because he was certain of his `right’ to build on ODZ land.”

The court, on the same morning, also revoked other parts of another permit for Joseph Portelli’s “mega-development in Sannat ^[2]” due to “breaches of building height regulations,” said the organisation.

Unfortunately, all these developments have already been built, said Graffitti. “The Planning Tribunal (EPRT) – yet another farcical institution – chose not to stop building progress until the case had been decided on, it added.”

Moviment Graffitti stated that “it is necessary that the law regarding appeals and the ways in which the Planning Tribunal functions are changed immediately to ensure that works cannot begin until a definite decision has been made about the appeal.”

In this case, Graffitti said it “will be doing every effort to ensure the removal of these illegalities.”

Moviment Graffitti concluded by saying that “above all, we will continue fighting against these abuses that are ravaging Malta and Gozo – perpetrated by the authorities of our own country and with the complete support of our own politicians – to stop them and safeguard the common good.”

Dr Claire Bonello represented the appellants in this case.

Photo: Moviment Graffitti