WATCH video
Moviment Graffitti is today releasing a video highlighting grave concerns regarding development application PA/00472/25, which threatens to decimate the heart of Ħal Qormi’s Urban Conservation Area (UCA).
Under the guise of a “boutique hotel”, the proposed project on Triq il-Kbira aims to transform the historic Baroque palace ‘tat-Tabib Maempel’ into a commercial complex, comprising several guesthouses and multiple swimming pools. This development will destroy a centuries-old garden that serves as an essential green lung for the St. George area, including ancient citrus and olive trees, and medieval structures.
Despite overwhelming opposition from the community, the project has been recommended for approval by the case officer, with the final Planning Authority hearing scheduled for Thursday 9th July.
The video being released features residents alongside the Mayor of Qormi, Josef Masini Vento, who strongly oppose the project, stating that the massive scale of the development will completely ruin the peaceful, authentic character of the St. George village core.
This project directly violates UCA conservation principles: according to Article 4.1.1 of the DC15 policy, open spaces like gardens are essential for urban life and must be fully safeguarded.
Additionally, the extensive excavation required poses a grave risk of contaminating Ħal Qormi’s ancient natural water source and groundwater table with sewage, pool chlorine, and pesticides.
Moreover, the peace of the neighbourhood will be replaced by continuous noise, chaos, and increased traffic. Furthermore, placing the hotel’s service door in a small, dead-end alley near Pjazza San Franġisk will choke residents’ quality of life, turning their neighbourhood into a service yard.
The genuine restoration of the palace and its garden is not opposed by Moviment Graffitti. On the contrary, it is desired that this majestic place be restored with all the dignity it deserves, so that it may be enjoyed by future generations.
Moviment Graffitti calls on the Planning Authority and the Government to reject this proposal immediately. We must raise our voices together to protect the few historic, authentic green spaces we have left.
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FILMAT: Moviment Graffitti jsejjaħ għar-rifjut tal-iżvilupp ta’ lukanda fil-UCA ta’ Ħal Qormi
Moviment Graffitti llum qed jippubblika filmat li jesprimi tħassib serju dwar l-applikazzjoni għall-iżvilupp PA/00472/25, li qed thedded il-qalba taż-Żona ta’ Konservazzjoni Urbana (UCA) ta’ Ħal Qormi.
Bl-iskuża ta’ “boutique hotel”, il-proġett propost fi Triq il-Kbira għandu l-għan li jittrasforma l-palazz Barokk storiku “tat-Tabib Maempel” f’kumpless kummerċjali magħmul minn diversi guesthouses u għadd ta’ pixxini. Dan l-iżvilupp se jeqred ġnien li għandu sekli sħaħ, u li jservi bħala pulmun aħdar essenzjali għall-inħawi ta’ San Ġorġ. Dan jinkludi siġar taċ-ċitru u taż-żebbuġ storiċi, kif ukoll strutturi medjevali.
Minkejja l-oppożizzjoni qawwija mill-komunità, il-proġett ġie rrakkomandat għall-approvazzjoni mill-uffiċjal tal-każ, bil-laqgħa finali tal-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar skedata għal nhar il-Ħamis, 9 ta’ Lulju.
Il-filmat jinkludi residenti flimkien mas-Sindku ta’ Ħal Qormi, Josef Masini Vento, li qed jopponu bil-qawwa dan il-proġett, filwaqt li jsostnu li l-iskala massiva ta’ dan l-iżvilupp se teqred għal kollox il-karattru kwiet u awtentiku tal-qalba tal-akwati ta’ San Ġorġ.
Dan il-proġett jikser b’mod dirett il-prinċipji ta’ konservazzjoni tal-UCA: skont l-Artikolu 4.1.1 tal-politika DC15, spazji miftuħa bħall-ġonna huma rekwiżit essenzjali għall-kwalità tal-ħajja urbana u għalhekk għandhom jiġu mħarsa.
Barra minn hekk, l-iskavar estensiv meħtieġ joħloq riskju serju ta’ kontaminazzjoni għas-sors tal-ilma naturali u għall-ilma tal-pjan ta’ Ħal Qormi minħabba drenaġġ, klorin tal-pixxini, u l-użu ta’ pestiċidi.
Lil hinn minn dan, il-kwiet tal-akwati se jinbidel fi storbju kontinwu u żieda fit-traffiku. Apparti minn hekk, il-proposta li l-bieb tal-kunsinni tal-lukanda jsir f’sqaq dejjaq u magħluq qrib il-Pjazza San Franġisk se toħnoq il-kwalità tal-ħajja tar-residenti, u effettivament se twassal biex il-lukanda tikkapparra għalkollox il-madwar.
Moviment Graffitti ma jopponix ir-restawr ġenwin tal-palazz u l-ġnien tiegħu. Anzi, huwa mixtieq li dan il-post majestuż jiġi rrestawrat bid-dinjità kollha li jistħoqqlu sabiex ikun jista’ jitgawda mill-ġenerazzjonijiet li ġejjin. Moviment Graffitti jsejjaħ lill-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar u lill-Gvern biex jirrifjutaw din il-proposta b’mod immedjat. Għandna ngħollu leħinna flimkien biex nipproteġu l-ftit spazji ħodor, storiċi u awtentiċi li fadlilna.
