Residents of Mellieħa, together with Il-Kollettiv, have just sent an open letter to the Prime Minister, urging his intervention in the ongoing Mellieħa Heights saga.

The controversy surrounds the transfer of public land to developer Paul Attard for just €380,000 in yearly ground rent. Despite pending appeals and an ongoing investigation by the National Audit Office (NAO), construction is set to begin this Saturday.

The permit for the development was fast-tracked and approved in just two months, sparking outrage from residents and the Local Council, who have filed appeals with the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal (EPRT).

In their letter to the Prime Minister, residents referenced his previous public statements opposing the sale of public land for private development.

They highlighted two instances—in October and November 2024—where the Prime Minister spoke against such agreements but fell short of revoking this particular transfer.

“We are disappointed at how you are ignoring our pleas to save our quality of life—something you promised to protect before the last election. Your interest in this matter seems to only come as a reaction to media coverage,” the residents wrote.

They also criticised the Planning Authority for what they described as dismissive and arrogant behaviour. “The Planning Commission’s attitude toward us was dismissive and definitely not in the public interest,” they added.

“We feel abandoned by the government and its authorities, who insists on facilitating private development which will make a sheer profit off the back of our quality of life, our health, and our mental wellbeing; this is unacceptable in every town in which it is allowed to happen.”

The residents and the Local Council are calling for the Qortin site to be transformed into a public open space, arguing that nearby Project Green initiatives do not compensate for the loss of air, light, and overall quality of life caused by the proposed development.

Mellieħa Mayor Gabriel Micallef has also publicly requested that the land be taken back by the government and turned into a space for public use.

Despite numerous appeals, the Prime Minister has yet to meet with residents or Local Council representatives.

What do you make of this ongoing saga?