Din l-Art Helwa Ghawdex is calling on all residents of Gozo and Malta to ”protest the latest stroke of destruction in Xlendi.”

”This, once picturesque, once incredibly beautiful Gozitan cove that attracts thousands of locals, residents and tourists to its magic is suffering the final, fatal twist of the knife. Beautiful no more, magical no more,” it said.

In a statement, the heritage group argued that, ”one of the bays most loved by Gozitans and Maltese is suffering yet another soul-wrenching, gut- twisting rape under our eyes and under the eyes of the government.”

”Heavy machinery is about to start ripping the guts out of the last boathouses on the remaining corner of Xlendi – the last vestiges of the old, quintessential seaside village that everybody loves,” the group stated.

”Instead we will soon see yet more soulless, characterless and ugly piles of concrete,” the heritage group added. ”This is all thanks to Malta’s ‘one size fits all’ planning guidelines – riddled with loopholes that allow ruthless developers to devour anything in their path hiding behind the heinous Annex 2 policy.”

”This does not have to happen. It should not happen.” The NGO also argued that ‘this development on Xlendi’s waterline is not right for the following reasons:”

1. ”What appears as two separate developments, on two sites with two separate planning permits is being built simultaneously as one development.

2. It is inconceivable that such a controversial planning application on such a very sensitive site, frequented by thousands of people only attracted a single objection during the obligatory MEPA consultation period.

3. Obligatory notices to neighbours of the sites do not appear to have been distributed as required by law.”

Din l-Art Helwa Ghawdex demanded that the Planning Authority and the Government ”step in and stop the works with immediate effect to ascertain the facts about this development and protect Xlendi’s natural landscape against obliteration.’

The NGO also appealed to ”every Gozitan, Maltese and foreign resident who loves Xlendi to make their voices heard.’

”Stop this rape, stop this development, preserve this one corner of the old Xlendi,” the NGO said. ”All of Gozo is under the knife.”

Din l-Art Helwa Ghawdex once again appealed to the Government to ”analyse and to act immediately on its three point plan to stop the rot and the destruction of Gozo.”

1. A 12 month suspension of DC2015 Annex 2 regulations in Gozo

2. A 12 month moratorium on all ODZ developments in Gozo.

Photo: Din l-Art Helwa Ghawdex projection of the Xlendi development

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