Product Description
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Price : €5.00 (inc. VAT)
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Save Ramla - € 5 Voucher
Although the general public is under the impression that the Ramla l-Hamra in Gozo, is no longer at risk of development, in fact, it is still under threat. The permit that had been granted in 2007 was subsequently rescinded on the grounds of false information being provided by the developers. The rescinding took place shortly after a large protest in Valletta organised by environment NGOs drew an estimated 1,500 protestors
However the fact is that MEPA’s rescinding of the permit is the subject of an appeal. This Appeal is being considered in spite of the fact that it commenced when only a fraction of the appeal fees were paid. A ruling on whether this appeal is to be allowed is to be given this Wednesday, however, in spite of the pretexts that were supplied, the fact remains that this is highly irregular as normally, an appeal cannot even be registered unless proof of full payment is presented. FAA cannot understand this inconsistency, how the Ramla developers have been allowed this concession by MEPA, whereas MEPA would have cancelled the application had it been submitted by an ordinary citizen.
While an appeal to reinstate the Ramla permit remains possible, this iconic bay remains under threat of development. Granting this permit will allow the building of a complex of 23 villas with pools on the slopes of the Ramla hillside and would effectively open the whole hillside to development. The Gozitan NGO Save Ramla, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar and other environment NGOs are committed to ensuring that the most iconic unspoilt beach in the Maltese islands remains unbuilt, also because parts of Ramla l-Hamra is a Natura 2,000 site due to the presence of an endangered plant which grows on the sand dunes at Ramla.
In order to fight this development it has been necessary to incur substantial and unavoidable expense to carry out research and studies and draw up professional reports so that our objection is based on solid ground.