The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) has filed an appeal against the decision made by the Planning Authority to issue a permit for the extension of a restaurant in Dwejra. 

The permit filed was for an extension of the restaurant’s seating capacity as well as permission to increase the amount of lighting in the area. It was originally rejected by the Planning Authority under the premise that “the proposed development would have an adverse impact in an important area…which aims for the safeguarding and enhancement of biodiversity, cultural heritage, geology and geomorphology”.

However, the owner of Azure Window Restaurant, Godwin Cassar, appealed the refusal and won the permit.

Now, ERA have issued an appeal claiming that the Tribunal in charge “failed to recognise the problems arising from the intensification and expansion of development at Dwejra”.

Some of the problems include the intensification of light pollution, which will prove detrimental to the neighbouring wildlife and ecosystem – especially to the population of Scopoli’s Shearwater and Yelkouan Shearwater which can become disoriented and may end up lost as a result.

The site is also a designated Dark Sky Heritage Area and can consequently lose its status if the expansion of the restaurant is seen through.

ERA also noted how the decision made by the Environmental Review Tribunal was “worrying” as it goes against their existence as a body to protect the environment.

15 NGOs have also banded together to raise funds and lodge their own appeal against the tribunal’s decision.

Featured Photo by The Institute of Space Sciences and Astronomy (ISSA). Inset Photo by Annabel M (from TripAdvisor)

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