Ancient Gardens In Peril

 

Palazzo Giannin and the garden at Three Churches Street, Balzan, have been granted permits in spite of being MEPA-designated Green Enclaves listed in their respective Local Plans which preclude the development of these sites. The initial refusals by the DCC boards were both overturned  by the Appeals Tribunal in spite of the fact that the highest heritage authorities, ie, the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, as well as MEPA’s Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee and Integrated Heritage Management Unit (IHM) all recommended refusal of these projects which have been recommended for scheduling by the Superinendence.

 

Examination of the MEPA files also revealed that both cases were submitted with incomplete information – in the Palazzo Giannin file the section on scheduled trees was cancelled, in spite of the presence of several such trees in this garden. In the case of the Three Churches Street garden, the developers failed to mention that the garden formed part of an old palazzo and that a secret passage converted to a protected wartime shelter is to be found in this garden. The alley giving access to the proposed properties was claimed to be private when in fact it is a public alley. For this reason FAA is requesting the invocation of MEPA’s Article 77 to rescind the permits granted on both cases due to incomplete and misleading information having been supplied by the applicants. FAA is very concerned that in the Balzan case, it would appear that the Environment Planning Committee is considering granting a full development permit at the forthcoming hearing in two weeks’ time.

 

FAA urges MEPA to issue an immediate scheduling order on both properties as recommended by the Superintendence, as was the case in the Manikata church.

 

In addition to the official documents attached above, we would like to emphasise that FAA is urging the Authorities to grant incentives to help owner of heritage properties to maintain their properties. These could range from schemes similar to the wooden balconies scheme, to a waiver of VAT on restoration works, a reduction in inheritance tax for scheduled properties, as well as a scheme whereby students of the school of restoration could be assigned to carry out projects at such buildings.  FAA also proposes that banks set up low-interest loan schemes for restoration projects.