“The identity and characteristics of Gozo continue to be threatened by unbridled development in picturesque areas,” the Nationalist Party has said.

The PN in a statement, said that “the way in which a large number of permits have been issued by the Planning Authority in the last 8 years clearly shows that the Government has failed in the protection of the beauty of the island.”

“This is a short sighted policy that we have yet to suffer its consequence in the years to come. A policy that has made Gozo lose and indeed continue to lose what makes it unique,” it said.

The Nationalist Party said that it understands that anyone who owns property or land that can be developed will want to maximise its value. “But this must always be done with the full protection of the identity of the island of Gozo, of the characteristics of the locality where the development will take place and of neighbours living in the same area.”

“Every development must always be considered within a larger framework of the public interest and what makes our islands more beautiful and not disgusting,” the PN said

The PN argued that “this obligation falls entirely on the Planning Authority whose officials are paid by the taxes of the Maltese and Gozitan people to protect the common good.”

The PN stated that, “unfortunately in the last 8 years the Planning Authority, with a clear direction from Castille, has become a Permits Authority at all costs without any consideration for aesthetics, environmental and economic sustainability and without any thought on how to protect the beauty of Gozo.”

It stressed that “entire streets with typical Maltese houses have been or are being turned into apartment blocks with no regard for the aesthetics of the place and no thought for how the quality of life of those living in that area will be affected as well as those streets.”

The PN went on to say that a few months ago all the Mayors of Gozo came up with 38 proposals on how to stop the development that is leading to the destruction of the urban and rural environment of Gozo.

“Although when both the Minister for Gozo and the Minister for the Environment said that they agreed with them, months later they have still not implemented any of the 38 proposals.

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