Dear Friends,

We ask for your support on an issue which threatens Malta's cultural heritage.

A development permit has been granted to build a two storey building within a few metres of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ta' Hagrat temples, and within the buffer zone set up to protect the temple.

Granting this development and denying the legislated buffer zone sets a dangerous precedent threatening all our cultural and natural heritage sites protected by buffer zones.

Government is also proposing two new policies that weaken the preservation of Malta’s heritage. The first allows the sanctioning of illegal developments at built or natural scheduled (protected) sites. The second policy being considered is that the scheduling of heritage buildings will be reviewed every ten years putting these at risk of being demolished in favour of yet more apartments.

We ask you to support this petition urging the officials listed below to take up their responsibilities.

We call on the Mgarr Local Council to take all the necessary legal measures to stop this development.

We call on the Superintendent of Cultural Heritage and Heritage Malta to stand by their positions refusing previous applications and to take measures to purchase that land.

We call on Government to intervene to stop this development, to legislate safeguards that will prevent a repeat of this case.  

Malta’s cultural heritage is precious – it is not only our pride as a nation, it is also the most important element of our tourism, the pillar of our economy.  We therefore call on the guardians of our heritage to do everything in their power to protect it.

Save our World Heritage sites!

Thank you for your support.

The Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar Committee.