Ta’ Ħaġrat

Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar is extremely concerned about the fate of Ta’ Ħaġrat Temples Mġarr Malta. PA 1272/00 was submitted seven years ago for the demolition of an existing garage and construction of a terraced house with an underlying garage close to the temples.

Due to the high archaeological sensitivity of the area the development application was refused by the Development Control Commission (mystifyingly listed as DCC Board 430202 on the website although in the DCC B list).

The Application was resubmitted and again refused permission however at Reconsideration stage this was subsequently turned into a ‘Grant Permission’ verdict on condition that the applicant obtained a bank guarantee in the eventuality that the archaeological site be damaged during demolition and construction.

FAA is therefore justified in wondering how serious our planning process really is, since no bank guarantees can safeguard the temples from the damaging effect that demolition, heavy machinery and the actual construction will have on the temples. Nor can bank guarantees ever bring back the Temples or any other built cultural heritage once lost. The Board also requested certain modifications to be made to the building including the elimination of the basement level, to lessen the impact of the development. The site is barely 5 metres away from the boundary wall surrounding the Temples.

The ripple effect of bad planning, inconsistent application of regulations and complete disrespect for our heritage will be felt when the final decision will be taken on PA 00306/06 which is another outline development application submitted to Mepa on January 16 th 2006, for the construction of basement garages, flats and penthouses. The site is also located at the far end of St Peter Street, Mġarr, and exactly in front of the previous application PA 1272/00 and which will also reach as far as the entrance to Ta’ Ħaġrat Temples. What’s more, this site lies almost entirely in an ODZ (Outside Development Zone). The Case Officer has again recommended a refusal however the fate of the Temples now hangs in the balance as the Case Officer reconsiders the case and DCC Board B gives the final verdict.

According to the archaeologist Dr David Trump, ‘’the first temple belongs to the Ġgantija phase and the smaller one to the succeeding Saflieni phase. The closely fitting stone pavement is worthy of note and the pottery named after the site is certainly early, and must belong to a pre-temple occupation which has yet to be excavated. For this reason only and pending any further investigations which Heritage Malta will in the future undertake, the site and the immediate surrounding area should have been given the greatest protection by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority and by the State.”

“Designated buffer zones around heritage sites should be maintained in view of future excavations which will throw more light on Malta’s Temple period and no planning applications should be approved in archaeologically sensitive areas. Moreover what is the point of designating areas as Outside Development Zones when Mepa itself is issuing permits for construction in ODZs.”

“It is worth noting that during last year’s so-called building zone extensions (so-called “Rationalisation”), in which we were promised there would be no more development of this type outside the building zone, a number of areas were held in abeyance subject to archaeological studies. Whilst these excavations should be carried out by competent archaeologists, FAA wonders why an area as sensitive as Ta’ Ħaġrat should be treated so inconsistently.”