“Legal action envisaged” to fight Ta- Muxi development – Council

Qala Local Council has declared that it “will take all necessary steps to protect the locality and ODZ areas, with legal action envisaged to fight the planning application in Ta-Muxi.”

The Qala Local Council in a statement said it will, “safeguard the environment in the locality against unsustainable development or building which scars and compromises the countryside.”

“The Qala councillors are unanimous in their stance against development applications in the countryside and ODZ areas in the locality,” the Council said.

Qala Mayor Paul Buttigieg said that, “to date, Gozo is still blessed with untouched rural areas and natural resources and the locality of Qala is renowned for its natural beauty.”

He added that, “as the entity entrusted with representing the locality and the people who hold Qala and Gozo at heart, the Qala Local Council is declaring that it is categorically opposing and objecting to the development proposed in Planning Application 941/19.”

Paul Buttigieg argued that “the Council’s objections are based on environmental considerations and the fact that planning policies do not allow for the development in an ODZ area when it has not been established that residential use of the site resulted from the aerial photos.”

He pointed out that there are judgements of the Court of Appeal in this regard. “The Qala Local Council expects the judgement of the highest Court of the land to be respected in its entirety,” Mayor Buttigieg said.

The Council has appointed a legal and technical team to represent it in relation to this application, as announced in August, ^[1] with lawyer Dr Claire Bonello and architect Carmel Cacopardo appointed to represent them.

“Legal submissions have already been filed before the Planning Commission and more will be made on the date of the hearing on the 31st of October.” the Mayor said.

He concluded by saying that the Local Council “wants to underline the fact that it is wholeheartedly united in its opposition to this development and will continue to protect the environment and citizens who have a right to enjoy their natural heritage.”