Moviment Graffitti is calling on the Planning Authority (PA) to immediately demolish the so-called “sheep farm” in Bidnija, after the Court definitively confirmed the revocation of its permit last week.

This enormous illegal building, with its several floors, reception areas and swimming pool, stands in the untouched Bidnija valley, a rural area that lies entirely Outside the Development Zone (ODZ) and contains freshwater habitats of ecological importance.

Moviment Graffitti and Din l-Art Ħelwa had submitted, in 2023, a request for the revocation of the permit issued by the PA. Although this request was accepted, the PA ordered that the application be reprocessed rather than definitively cancelled.

An appeal was therefore filed before the Tribunal, insisting that once the PA had revoked the permit, it could not order the application to be processed again. We also insisted that additional grounds for revocation had to be taken into account – in particular, the fact that the site’s scheduled status had not been indicated on the relevant forms.

The Tribunal agreed with the organisations and ruled that the permit should be definitively revoked on the grounds set out in the appeal.

The applicant then appealed the decision before the courts, which confirmed that the organisations were right and that the permit had therefore been definitively cancelled.

The applicant subsequently filed an application for a retrial, arguing that the Court of Appeal’s decision was vitiated by an incorrect application of the law – an argument that the Judge categorically rejected in a ruling delivered last week.

Dr Claire Bonello represented the organisations throughout the case.

This means that this massive structure, built in a sensitive valley, is now totally and definitively illegal. It must be removed, and the site restored, as far as possible, to its natural state.

Our efforts will continue until this illegal building is demolished. We also warn the PA that any attempt to change the current regulations or sanction the building through backdoor manoeuvres will be met with fierce resistance from all those who treasure our natural and agricultural heritage.

Bring it down!

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Waqqgħu t-taparsi razzett tan-nagħaġ fil-Bidnija – Il-Qorti tikkonferma b’mod definittiv l-illegalità tiegħu

Il-Moviment Graffitti jappella lill-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar (PA) biex minnufih twaqqa’ l-hekk imsejħa “razzett tan-nagħaġ” fil-Bidnija, wara li l-ġimgħa li għaddiet il-Qorti kkonfermat b’mod definittiv ir-revoka tal-permess tiegħu.

Din il-binja enormi illegali, b’diversi sulari, żoni ta’ riċeviment u pixxina, tinsab fil-wied mhux mimsus tal-Bidnija, f’żona rurali li tinsab kompletament Barra miż-Żona tal-Iżvilupp (ODZ) u li fiha ħabitats tal-ilma ħelu ta’ importanza ekoloġika.

Fl-2023, il-Moviment Graffitti u Din l-Art Ħelwa kienu ressqu talba għar-revoka tal-permess maħruġ mill-PA. Għalkemm din it-talba ntlaqgħet, il-PA ordnat li l-applikazzjoni tiġi pproċessata mill-ġdid minflok ma titħassar b’mod definittiv.

Għalhekk tressaq appell quddiem it-Tribunal, fejn insistejna li ladarba l-PA kienet irrevokat il-permess, ma setgħetx tordna li l-applikazzjoni terġa’ tiġi pproċessata. Insistejna wkoll li kellhom jitqiesu raġunijiet oħra għar-revoka – b’mod partikolari, il-fatt li l-istatus ta’ skedar tas-sit ma kienx ġie indikat fil-formoli rilevanti.

It-Tribunal qabel mal-organizzazzjonijiet u ddeċieda li l-permess kellu jiġi rrevokat b’mod definittiv abbażi tar-raġunijiet imressqa fl-appell.

L-applikant imbagħad appella mid-deċiżjoni quddiem il-Qrati, li kkonfermaw li l-organizzazzjonijiet kellhom raġun u li għalhekk il-permess tħassar b’mod definittiv.

Wara din id-deċiżjoni, l-applikant ressaq rikors ta’ ritrattazzjoni, fejn sostna li d-deċiżjoni tal-Qorti tal-Appell kienet ivvizzjata minn applikazzjoni żbaljata tal-liġi – argument li l-Imħallef ċaħad kategorikament f’deċiżjoni mogħtija l-ġimgħa li għaddiet.

Dr Claire Bonello rrappreżentat lill-organizzazzjonijiet matul il-proċeduri kollha tal-każ.

Dan ifisser li din l-istruttura enormi, mibnija f’wied sensittiv, issa hija kompletament u definittivament illegali. Din trid titneħħa, u s-sit għandu jitreġġa’ lura’, sa fejn hu possibbli, għall-istat naturali tiegħu.

L-isforzi tagħna se jkomplu sakemm din il-binja illegali titwaqqa’. Inwissu wkoll lill-PA li kull tentattiv biex jinbidlu r-regolamenti attwali jew biex il-binja tiġi ssanzjonata permezz ta’ manuvri oħra, se jsib reżistenza qawwija minn dawk kollha li jgħożżu l-wirt naturali u agrikolu tagħna.