Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/292371
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 9 APRIL 2014 7 News MEPA to sanction illegalities in Xaghra Stone Circle Planning and environmental arms at odds over application to sanction illegalities in ODZ buffer zone to Xaghra Stone Circle JAMES DEBONO MEPA'S Planning Directorate is rec- ommending the regularisation of paving works 70 metres away from the Brochtorff Circle, arguing that the development merely consists tile-laying on disturbed land inside the boundaries of an approved build- ing, which did not require any exca- vations. The site is designated as a zone of archaeological importance and a buffer zone to the Ggantija complex in Xaghra. The site also lies in a buffer zone for a system of underground caves, 300 metres west of Ggantija. The Brochtorff Circle at Xagħra, one of possibly two stone circles at Xagħra, is an underground Neolithic burial complex. It was first discov- ered by John Otto Bayer in the 1820s and rediscovered in 1964 after Gozi- tan researcher Joe Attard Tabone examined a painting by Charles Brochtorff in the National Library in Valletta. It was excavated by a joint team from the University of Malta, the Maltese Museums Department and the University of Cambridge. The ex- cavation uncovered the burial ground of the same community which prac- tised its rituals in the nearby Ggan- tija temple, dating principally to the period from 3000 to 2400 BC. The most notable discoveries include more than 200,000 fragments of hu- man bone, animal bone, megalithic structures and prehistoric art relat- ing to the builders of the prehistoric Maltese temples. The Environment Protection Di- rectorate has called on MEPA not to approve the permit and to order the removal of the illegalities in question. MEPA's heritage advisory commit- tee initially objected to the applica- tion but following a site inspection, it concluded that since no excavations took place, it was no longer objecting to the application. The board will take a decision on the sanctioning of the illegal works on Thursday. AN action committee formed by Santa Lu- cija Residents has started an online petition against the development of a five storey old people's home in an ODZ location near Wied Garnaw. Catherine Polidano, who had successfully campaigned against the development of waste separation facility in Wied Garnaw that was turned down in 2004 and 2007, is leading the initiative. The petition, addressed to MEPA chief executive Johann Buttigieg, calls on the au- thority to reject the proposed development site as it is in a rural conservation area and as a valley protection zone. The South Malta Local Plan zones the area as a strategic open space gap, where MEPA is duty bound to prevent urban sprawl. "The site forms part of a scarce green lung for the south of Malta and has legal protection as an aquifer protection zone". The home for the elderly is being proposed on 4,472 square metres of ODZ land along Luqa Road, next to the Garnaw Valley reser- voir. Architect Robert Sarsero, who sits on MEPA's Tribunal of Review, filed the applica- tion on behalf of applicant Neville Schembri, a director and shareholder in Healthmark Care Services. Residents' petition to save Wied Garnaw FORMER Labour Prime Minister Karmenu Mif- sud Bonnici was hospitalised again yesterday after complaining of pain. The doctors ordered Mifsud Bonnici to check in at Mater Dei Hospital as a pre- caution. The 80-year-old underwent intervention last month. He succeeded Dom Mintoff as PM and Labour Party leader in 1984. He served as Prime Minister until 1987. He continued on as Labour leader until 1992. KMB back in hospital