'The rape of Ramla'

The famous Ramla Bay in Gozo may become unrecognisable if a development proposal goes through. From today's Independent on Sunday:

“A garden vine, luxuriant on all sides, mantled the spacious cavern, cluster-hung profuse” So does Homer (Odyssey 5,64) describe Ramla Bay in Gozo as seen from Calypso’s Cave. Not for long, though, it would seem. For on 7 July, the board of Mepa approved at outline stage what was described as “the redevelopment of an existing fully licensed commercial complex” namely Ulysses Lodge, which was built years ago and which was used as a nightclub and for wedding receptions.

It will now become 23 self-catering villa style residential units, with ancillary parking spaces, while a farm building will be converted into an administration centre. Speaking to The Malta Independent on Sunday yesterday, MP Evarist Bartolo, who raised the matter in Parliament last week, said the main concern is that this may lead to further strip development in the same way that the ruin of the Zebbug skyline has been allowed by building development over the years.

Ramla Bay by Wilfred Camilleri