Żabbar Local Council Calls Protest Against Elderly Home Project
Żabbar’s local council has called a protest against an elderly care home that has been approved by the Planning Authority in the town square.
The protest will take place on Monday at 10am, a public holiday, at Misraħ għal-Madonna Medjatriċi, where the project will be built.
“The PA has approved a five-storey building in the heart of Żabbar, despite strong objections from the local council and Żabbar residents,” Żabbar mayor Jorge Grech said.
He warned that the project will be higher than surrounding buildings, create blank party walls that will seriously clash with the character of the town centre, disrupt village feast fireworks which are traditionally launched from a nearby field, and aggravate parking problems.
Moreover, Grech pointed out that, under the planning policy for elderly care homes, the private developer will eventually be able to apply to extend the building by a further two storeys – to a total of seven storeys.
“We believe that this development will seriously harm the town’s character and the quality of life in our town,” he said.
“We are therefore calling on residents, NGOs and everyone who loves our town to join us in a protest on Monday.”
“We need to safeguard the heart of Żabbar from this kind of destructive development. The planning permit should be rescinded immediately – Żabbar deserves better.”
Moviment Graffitti has endorsed the protest, describing the approval of this project as farcical (pastażata).
“We urge everyone, not only Żabbar residents, to join this protest. We must unite in resistance against this destruction in the centre of our beloved towns and villages.”