THE ISSUE
		The area in Attard known as Ta’ Fġieni (behind Villa Bologna) has since the 1970s been earmarked as an open space to be landscaped as a pjazza.  As the neighbourhood has been developed, calls from the residents to have the pjazza landscaped have intensified.  The pjazza at Ta’ Fġieni is now one of the few remaining open spaces in the locality.  Between 1985 and 1998 the population of Attard increased by 65% from 5,681 to 9,372 and the increasing of building height limitations in the area has added to the building densithy and sense of enclosure.
		In the final Local Plan that was approved by the minister in 2006, the pjazza was rezoned from an ‘open space’ to building land without reason or proper consultation although residents had passed submissions on to the Attard Local Council.  The first the residents knew of this rezoning was when the developer who acquired the land applied to build a block of flats on the rezoned pjazza.  We are calling on MEPA to maintain this area as a ‘public open space,’ and on the Attard Local Council to landscape it as a pjazza for the following reasons:
		1. There is a desperate need for a public open space in the neighbourhood given the increasing population density
		2. Given the oversupply of flats on the market, there is absolutely no planning logic in rezoning a ‘public open space’ to building land
		3. The rezoning is a severe injustice on residents who acquired their property on the understanding that this area in Ta’ Fġieni would remain a ‘public open space’ for them and their families to enjoy
		4. The proposed development will threaten the historic tower and crenellated wall of Villa Bologna
		Do you fell that Attard should not be reduced to another concrete jungle?
		Do you feel that Attard's residents, especially its children, have a right to public open spaces?
		Do you feel that Villa Bologna should not be engulfed and obliterated like so many other heritage buildings in Malta and Gozo?
		If so, please sign our petition by clicking here…
		This campaign is supported by Flimkien Ghal Amjent Ahjar and Din L' Art Helwa.
		"Emphasis will be given to the enhancement and improvement of squares and public open spaces."
		Mepa's 'Urban Conservation Area' leaflet on Attard
		TIMELINE OF EVENTS…
1970s
	OPEN SPACE SECURED
		Public works designate an area in Ta' Fġieni as a public open space
		Terraced houses are built around the 'public open space' and the area slowly takes shape as a residential zone
1980s
	RESIDENTS LOBBY FOR PJAZZA TO BE LANDSCAPED
		Residents lobby for a pjazza to be landscaped on the 'public open space'
1990s
	DEVELOPER BUYS 'PUBLIC OPEN SPACE'
1992		Developer buys 'public open space' land for LM1,000 to grow orange trees
1992- 1998		Continuous lobbying of government and local council by residents for a pjazza to be landscaped
1998		Same developer threatens residents.  A resident is told that his throat will be slit if he writes about the subject again.  A police report is lodged
1998		Residents write to home affairs minister following an application to get building permission on the open space
1999		Following an application "To include land for terraced house development instead of public open space" a group of local residents submit a petition to MEPA and the Attard Local Council, requesting that the Ta' Fgieni unbuilt area remains a public open space as repeadedly promised by the Local Council .  They also request that MEPA does not build on this land.
2001-2004
2002	DRAFT PLAN ISSUED BUT THERE IS NO PROPER CONSULTATION	Prior to buying a property at Ta' Fgieni, a resident makes enquiries at MEPA regarding the status of the site and is shown the petition still in the file.  The public consultation on the Local Plans ran from 1999 to 2002 and this proves that MEPA was informed of the residents' wishes during that period.
		MEPA issues a Draft Consultation Plan, residents are unaware of any changes to zoning
		Attard Local Council verbally confirms to residents that the open space will be landscaped in due course.  Residents were informed that the delay in landscaping was due to the lengthy requisitioning process when in fact no official attempt was made to requisition.
2004-2007
	FINAL PLAN PASSED THROUGH PARLIAMENT
		Final version of the plan is passed through parliament
		MEPA's own Audit Officer finds that MEPA failed to consult with the public (as required by law) on the substantial changes to the Draft Consultation Plan
2007
April		Ombudsman questions lack of public consultation in the processing of the Local Plans	Ombudsman's Report
		EU Infringements Unit finds sufficient grounds to justify investigation of the Local Plans
	RESIDENTS REALISE WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND START CAMPAIGN; MEPA STARTS COUNTER CAMPAIGN		Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Website
		Flimkien Għall-Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) and Alternattiva Demokratika (AD) take legal action claiming the rezoning is illegal as the final plan was never subjected to consultation as required by law	Alternattiva Demokratika Website
		NGOs ask the courts to issue injunctions to stop MEPA issuing building permits on development zone extensions on the basis that the rezoning was illegal
August		The 'public open space' in Attard is suddenly cleared
September		Residents contact Astrid Vella (FAA) and Ralph Cassar (AD) for guidance
October		Residents write to MEPA asking for clarification
		MEPA advises that in the final plan the area has been 'rezoned for development'
		An application is made to build flats garages and shops on the 'public open space'.  This is adjacent to, and will obscure, the historic castellated walls and tower of Villa Bologna gardens
		The application is posted on site, hidden behind wooden planks and refuse and disappears soon after it is posted
November		Residents are horrified to find that their 'pubic open space' can now be built on and numerous objections are posted with MEPA
		A press conference is called at Villa Bologna, where part of the historic gardens have also been rezoned for development.  However, the owners of Villa Bologna commit to not developing the historic gardens and formally ask MEPA to schedule the Villa and gardens
		The Mayor of Attard, Norbert Pace, fails to attend the press conference.  His silence over the entire issue is conspicuous
		Historian and former Attard Mayor Henry Frendo lends his support to the campaign to protect Villa Bologna
		The Times carries an editorial drawing attention to the situation and accusing MEPA of 'institutionalised vandalism'
		Numerous Attard residents and environmental campaigners submit letters to newspapers expressing their outrage at the rezoning
		MEPA immediately mounts an offensive, using taxpayers' money to fund a full page advertisement in The Times.  Godwin Cassar, Director General of MEPA, writes a an opinion column in The Times supporting the MEPA advertisement
		The Deputy Mayor of Attard lends his support to residents and files an objection with MEPA
December		Residents make representation to the President, the Prime Minsiter, Minister for Rural Affairs and their MEP
		The Deputy Mayor of Attard calls a Council Meeting to discuss the rezoning.  The meeting takes place in early December
		Land Registry searches on the developer reveal that he is a serious speculator.  It is obvious that his intention was never to grow orange trees, the 'public open space' was secured with a clear objective; to have the area made developable at the residents' expense
2008
January		Calls for the 'public open space' to be maintained and Villa Bologna to be protected by a buffer zone intensify and a petition is started
May		Over 1,200 signatures are collected in the Save Attard petition; the public is clearly outraged by the proposed development on what was meant to be their open space
		MAP OF CENTRAL ATTARD
		MAP OF CENTRAL ATTARD