There are ”grave concerns” within the Coalition for Gozo (Din 1-Art Helwa Ghawdex, Ghawdix and Wirt Ghawdex) about the future of Gozo and the ”actions of the Planning Authority are yet again being tested to the limits with the latest new approval by PA to destroy a Gozitan gem of centuries old, vernacular architecture in Xewkija.”

In a statement, the Coalition said that, ”this building, which is so pristine that it could serve as a ‘museum’ of typical Gozitan architecture, has been granted a permit to be partly demolished with the remaining part engulfed within a block of 32 flats.”

The original application, fronted by one individual, but belonging to a group of well-known Gozitan developers, was granted a development permit after a complex and almost ”Kafkaesque” series of moves, the Coalition said.

It went on to say that the original application rightly encountered strong objections by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage (SCH) which stated that ‘the building had to be retained in its entirety with minimal interventions.’

The Superintendence also called for ‘the proposal to be revised to avoid engulfing the vernacular building with resultant loss of legibility of the historical structure ‘The Coalition explained that the application was initially refused by PA. The developers immediately appealed to the EPRT. ”However, whist still going through the EPRT appeal process. a second similar application for the same property was again filed at PA.”

For this, a new case officer, ”for inexplicable reasons, failed to include the most significant original reason for refusal submitted by the PA itself in the first application, with the result that the application was then approved on the second submission This happened despite consistent warnings by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage,” the Coalition said.

The Coalition also noted that vernacular architecture is protected by the Cultural Heritage Act. Previous appeals to the Government and the PA to intervene in other ”atrocious developments” have failed.

The Coalition said that it is examining all possible legal options and also writing directly to the SCH to request them to intervene in any way possible with the PA and the Government.

The Coalition stressed that it is also, on this occasion, making a direct request to the developers concerned to ”develop a sense of civic duty and show respect to Gozo’s heritage by desisting from commencing any demolition works to compromise this structure.”The Coalition added that it believes that ”this charade is the final straw.”

The general public is being invited by the Coalition to view photos of the external and internal aspects of this beautiful. old building which must be ”preserved and protected, not consigned to the dustbin of history by a government institution set up to protect. not destroy, the country.”

Permalink: PA dismisses SCH objections and approves demolition of Gozo vernacular `museum’