Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1130632
12 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 16 JUNE 2019 JAMES DEBONO OVER 36,000sq.m of agricul- tural land in Mosta are set to be lost to residential development, after these were included in the 2006 extension of the building zone. The Ta' Mellu land is being recommended by the Planning Authority's planning directo- rate as a zone for 17.5m-high development, despite objec- tions by the Environment and Resources Authority against a new road that will protrude outside the 2006 boundaries. The ERA said the new road was an "unacceptable" loss of further undeveloped land be- yond what was included in 2006. ERA also insisted that inter- ventions should be confined within the development zone. But the PA's planning directo- rate has defended the proposed road, arguing that this was be- ing done "to achieve street con- tinuation of Triq Gio Maria Camilleri". A condition is being recom- mended so that the boundary wall along the road at the edge of scheme is constructed in the traditional random rubble. Original plans to create a pe- destrian zone around San Sil- vestru, which presently serves as a roundabout, have been dropped after Transport Malta objected on safety grounds. The development will include two public open spaces, which together amount to 1,839sq.m; while 22,000sq.m will be devel- oped and the rest of the site will be taken up by roads and front gardens. The Mosta local council had called for lower building heights at the same level of the mainly two and three-storey buildings in the area. It had also called for the pe- destrianisation of the area around the chapel and for a green buffer between existing developments and the devel- opment within the rationalisa- tion site. The owners of the site in- clude hotelier and developer Anglu Xuereb, and landowner Salvino Testaferrata Moroni Viani. A final decision by the PA's executive council, its highest governing body, is expected in the next few weeks. The PA is also consider- ing the zoning of another 40,000sq.m tract at Mosta's tad-Dib area, in the vicinity of the historic Cumbo tower, which was also included in de- velopment boundaries back in 2006. The sprawling piece of ag- ricultural land that separates Mosta from the Durumblat Road in Attard, is targeted for a massive development project by proponent Charles Azzo- pardi. It is the second time that a development application is presented to the Planning Au- thority for the area known as tad-Dib. But the Planning Authority had rejected a similar applica- tion two years ago, in what was hailed as a major victory by Al- ternattiva Demokratika chair- person Carmel Cacopardo, who represented Mosta resi- dents objecting to the massive development. OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER MINISTRY FOR HEALTH As part of the Project "ESF 02.053 – Developing Allied Health Capacity to Sustain Health Care Needs", the Ministry for Health has acquired European funds to sponsor candidates to undergo training abroad to become a: Genetic Counsellor (Master's Degree) Orthoptists (Bachelor's Degree) Optometrists (Bachelor's Degree) Sponsorship covers tuition abroad, paid books and equipment, travel, subsistence whilst abroad, employment and salary whilst following the course and employment following successful completion. More information on these courses can be accessed from the Government website http://deputyprimeminister.gov.mt/en/ahcs/Pages/ESF-projects.aspx or contact: +356 2545 6831 or +356 2545 6886 Interested candidates are to submit their application by not later than 12.00 noon (Central European Time) on Monday, 24 th June 2019 through the Online Government Recruitment Portal on https://recruitment.gov.mt/ Mosta braced for massive 36,000sq.m development Road for new development will protrude outside development zones after pedestrianisation plans are dropped