MEPA has issued a statement this evening saying that it would like to clarify the following facts related to Villa Mekrech in Hal Ghaxaq:

Last month, MEPA said it has given a Grade 2 level of protection to Villa Mekrech and its formal garden in Triq Santa Marija, Hal Ghaxaq.

To protect the Villa Mekrech and its formal large garden, the Authority said it has designated the area behind the formal garden with its frontage on Triq il-Kuncizzjoni, as a buffer zone whereby any development can only have a depth of 25m from the street with a limited height restriction of two floor and a stairwell access of 1.5m metres in height.

The Authority added that no services can be placed on the roof of the stairwell, to safeguard the visual integrity of the townhouse and its gardens. Notwithstanding both the outline development permit (which was granted in October 2008) and the full development permission application are in line with the scheduling conditions.

As regards to the uprooting of trees, back in 2009 MEPA said that it had issued a permit for the uprooting and relocation of 3 olives trees.

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