Joseph Portelli’s application for an ODZ Pool in Xaghra might be approved by the Planning Authority despite recommendation for refusal, eNGOs have said.

The five eNGOs said that they are “extremely concerned” by the fact that the Planning Authority has not refused an application for a swimming pool in Marsalforn Valley at the back of a seven-storey block of flats belonging to Gozitan Joseph Portelli and his partners.

In a joint statement on Monday, Din l-Art Helwa Ghawdex, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Ghawdix, Moviment Graffitti and Wirt Ghawdex, argued that the swimming pool at the side of the valley, is not only destructive in its own right – being situated in the lush valley, it would also set a precedent that would be disastrous, as it would give other developments along the ridge grounds for swimming pool permits.

They stressed that this point has already been made resoundingly by various objectors to the proposed development, including the Xaghra Local Council, the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, and the Environment and Resources Authority.

The eNGOs stressed that the Planning Authority’s own technical report also recommended refusal. “Incredulously, however, the Planning Commission instead asked the developer to make minor tweaks to the plan, and will now decide on the application tomorrow.”

They insisted that if granted, this would set a new level of “planning outrage” when it comes to permitting development in sensitive Outside Development Zone areas.

The eNGOs went on to say that after the political party elected to government promised in its manifesto to protect the peripheries of villages from destructive developments, “granting a permit tomorrow would be politically damaging and send the wrong message.”

They stressed that “it is crucial to translate promises into action, particularly in a case such as this one that should have already been refused given the obvious breaches of planning policies, the damage to natural habitats and valleys in Gozo, and the fact that the Planning Authority itself recommended refusal.”

The eNGOs argued that “the country cannot go on like this, falling to one low after another when it comes to development. It is outrageous that the Planning Authority still finds it so hard to protect sensitive landscapes situated in the supposedly protected Outside Development Zone even as the government itself promises to do so.”“This planning application should have never got this far in the first place,” they said.

“This also shows that the Rural Policy and Design Guidance of 2014, which provides the planning context for applications such as this swimming pool, has to be immediately amended to close any loopholes,” they added.

The eNGOs pointed out the the government had said it would reform this policy to close loopholes for developments in the countryside almost two years ago. But the promised reform has never been implemented.

The eNGOs also stated that they are “very concerned by the feeble representation of the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA).”

“Although ERA has called for a refusal, we are dismayed that it is not insisting on the protection of the maquis habitat, which is comprehensively threatened due to the precedent that this proposed development would set. ERA is obliged to put up a more spirited and vigorous effort to protect such a sensitive habitat,” they said.

The eNGOs concluded by saying that thy will be making strong interventions tomorrow in the Planning Commission meeting to emphasise the unacceptability of this planning application.

The public can join the online meeting by clicking on this link: https://bit.ly/38kSahq.

Photos: eNGOs – Xaghra valley and the valley with proposed pool area highlighted

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