6 comments so far.And yet another development in Gozo? – James Tyrrell
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Once again it was with great sadness that I read the story in the Gozo News entitled, ‘Recession takes its toll as Gozo Heritage closes down.’ I felt real pity for Former Gozo Heritage Director Brian Mizzi, who conceived the idea of the museum, and who said that it had been losing money for the past four years and they “stuck it out” for as long as they could, but were just not getting enough business.
I had here the vision of a man in tears at the thought of his museum having to close. Then I checked the Mepa website and in particular an application for a development referring to Gozo Heritage Ltd., Triq Mgarr, Ghajnsielem. This is for the Redevelopment of Gozo Heritage and adjacent property into residential units and the reception date for this application was 23 December 2008.
So it would appear that someone has known for at least the past 6 months that Gozo Heritage was closing down and managed to lodge a quick application for redevelopment. Who could that be I wonder? Well the mystery is soon solved when you check the name of the applicant. The name is Brian Mizzi! So Brian if you could put the crocodile tears to one side for a moment perhaps you would like to comment, especially from the viewpoint of the 10 jobs, which have been lost?
So much for the much talked about Mepa reform. First we had hotels getting abusive ODZ permits on the grounds that it would help tourism. Then we had homes for the elderly that got ODZ permits in Mosta and Gudja, and now a museum and adjacent property to be turned into residential units. MEPA should not allow a ‘change of use’.
James A. Tyrrell,
5 Lower Cairncastle Road,
Larne,
County Antrim,
N. Ireland BT40 1PG
I think MEPA needs to do a tour of Gozo and count up how many empty half finished properties there are strewn across the Island before they rubber stamp yet another Residential application, so much for keeping the charm of Gozo alive
You cannot expect Brian Mizzi (not related to me ) to just sit there and keep losing money for another 4 years. At some point you have to cut your losses and move on. He made a business decision that he is never going to make any money as a museum and he chose to develop the property like everybody else is doing.
Don’t crucify him for his decision, because when he needed help it seems like nobody lifted a finger. It is easy to sit there in Ireland and complain about Mepa and offer your opinions.
If you wanted to do something about it, you should have tried to bring in more customers for Mr Mizzi when he was open. I do agree that Gozo is way over-developed but that is not Brian Mizzi’s fault either and you cannot make him pay for everybody else’s greed.
Thank You
@Charlie Mizzi. You say and I quote, ‘It is easy to sit there in Ireland and complain about Mepa and offer your opinions’. Are you saying that I’m wrong to complain about Mepa? Have you found something, which I don’t know about which would mean I should be congratulating them? As for offering my opinions that’s all I can do Charlie, unless you think I should be offering someone else’s opinions!
As for Brian Mizzi I don’t know the man but I know of him and I know he is not exactly short of a bob or two. If he had wanted to make a success of the museum he could have done so with a bit of thought and some advertising. Perhaps then I would have known that the museum existed and could have visited it myself as well as suggesting others do so as well.
This is a big problem. We now have foreigners from N Ireland dictating us (Gozitans) what to do in our islands now. What all these people want is just to come to Gozo for summer and enjoy their villa and leave us (Gozitans) living in this so called crib without any investments (air link) or development.
@R.Scic. You obviously haven’t followed any of my letters in the past or you wouldn’t be making that comment. I have a lot of very good friends on Gozo and I come there every year. I don’t have a villa because I’m an ordinary working person and can’t afford one.
What I do have is a great love for the island of Gozo and it’s people and anything I have ever written has been in support of the island, its people, its history and its environment.
I also notice that you raise the subject of an air link, which of course has nothing to do with the story here but why let that stop you getting a mention in. Am I opposed to an air link? No, I never have been. I have always supported 100% the idea of an air link between Malta and Gozo. However the form of air link I support would be a helicopter. I have never supported the idea of an airstrip.
What business is it of mine and why am I commenting? It was made my business when those who support the idea of destroying more of Gozo’s precious land to build an airstrip for rich idiots to fly their little toys into, used tourists as the reason why it was necessary. That gives me the right to comment and comment I will, whether you like it or not. Perhaps you would prefer it if I was one of these foreigners who put your country down?
@ R.Scic & Charlie Mizzi
I am one of the many readers of Gozo News that do follow what Mr Tyrrell writes ,we all should be grateful at the level of writing he writes his articles. I suggest that you both read these links and afterwards make a reply:
https://gozo.news/item/it-never-fails-to-amaze-me-how-mepa-falls-over-itself-james-tyrrell/
https://gozo.news/letters/killing-the-goose-that-lays-the-golden-egg-james-a-tyrrell/
https://gozo.news/only-in-gozo/have-mepa-lost-the-plot-altogether-j-a-tyrrell/
https://gozo.news/item/does-the-government-care-obviously-not-readers-letter/
https://gozo.news/only-in-gozo/eco-ducks-for-the-eco-island-of-gozo/
There are more but I selected the first ones that came to my mind .Do these articles show if Mr Tyrrell is saying any LIES or he is trying to wake up our government from their long sleep ?
Mr Tyrrell keep on writing. Don’t take notice of these type of critics, you are 100% RIGHT