9 comments so far.Gaia Foundation defends clean-up of stones from Ramla Bay
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The Gaia Foundation, which manages Ramla L-Hamra, Gozo, has in a statement issued today, defended the use of a bulldozer to remove pebbles and stones from the beach early last Friday. Ramla Bay is the only beach on Gozo that has been awarded a blue flag in 2013.
The Foundation said that no intervention took place on the sand dunes and all the works were carried out under the supervision of MEPA and the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage.
“Stones which were not part of the site were removed while surplus pebbles were placed along the water course, to remain within the natural eco system.”
The Foundation pointed out “that the works that were carried out did not affect the ecological integrity of the site, but restored the normal state of the beach that was disturbed by the denuding of sand beneath the Belancourt battery and the presence of the said stones extraneous to the natural elements of the beach.”
“In some years the pebbles washed ashore were minimal and may have been left where they were or moved by hand, the large amount of stones that washed ashore this winter, with the record North Westerly winds blowing over the winter and Spring have caused the sea to bring over from the collapsing sea wall constructed by the Knights, foreign material onto the beach which could only be removed by mechanical means,” the Foundation explained.
“If stones such as these were not moved and/or removed,” the Foundation continued, “the integrity of the site may have been compromised and the services offered to the public would have suffered, with the large number of foreign stones along this part of the shore that would have made it next to impossible for bathers, the statement concluded.”
Ramla Beach had a problem with large stones and pebbles back in 2010, when after obtaining the approval the GAIA Foundation, who manage Ramla Bay and the Malta Environment and Planning, workers from the hygeine department of the Projects and Development Section within the Ministry for Gozo, cleaned up the large stones and pebbles, from Ramla Bay
The strong currents and storms which had occurred over the previous winter period, caused areas of the beach to become covered with the stones. The Ministry said that the red sand for which the beach is noted for, had become covered more than usual with the stones.
On the recommendation of the GIA Foundation and MEPA, which had both monitored the work being carried out at that time, the stones were landfilled and capped with sand.
The NGO ‘Save Ramla,’ also this month, on the 6th of June, announced that the saga that had gone on for almost six years to save Ramla Bay from the development of villas instead of the Ulysses Lodge, was finally over after it said that the site had been “saved from destruction,” with the revocation of planning permits.
This came about by comments by Dr.Deidun. I do not question his qualifications where it concerns areas that he is familiar with. But commenting on Ramla bay??? isn’t Gaia foundation looking after it?
Dr.Deidun: this is not your area so please but out!!!!!!!!
Sorry Dr.Deidun, I retract the last sentence. I was not in the right frame of mind and got carried away.
From experience of Ramla, I would say that it is GAIA Foundation’s who should keep out of it and not Dr Deidun. They (GAIA) put the blame on the seawall for large stones filling up the beach whereas it is they, through neglecting the Betancourt battery and letting it collapse bit by bit that the large stones found their way to the beach.
Don’t forget Marsalforn beach .
I think the ministry and the Foundation needs a advise how to clean beaches !
I could help – if you want !
Why are people who post on this site so often rude to others and why don’t the moderators get them to moderate their language?
With due respect to J.Vella M’s views you don’t have to live next to somewhere or even in the same country to have an opinion or to disagree with the way that a process has been carried out.
Mr. Brightside: in 2010 the same clean up principle was applied to Ramla Bay and that did not ruffle any feathers. Sorry if I offended anybody in my comment.
Thank you for your apology ….you’re a good man.
Somethings got to to be done about all the car and bus fumes that people are inhaling.
A lady in Gozo said that she has to clean the dirt that seeps into her house from the car and bus exhaust more than once a day.
If the island is too populated, allowing cruise liners to dock in Gozo would be ludicrous. That would mean more people getting off in Gozo and using cars which would result in twice the pollution and twice the traffic.
Another stupid move would be to build a tunnel or bridge in Gozo which would also cause twice the traffic and twice the pollution in Gozo.