Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1149911
4 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 31 JULY 2019 JAMES DEBONO THE Planning Authority is set to approve its own application to make an incision within the bastions to accommodate ac- cess to the a car park from the Enforcement Directorate block. The case officer is recom- mending approval with the final decision expected on Wednesday 31 July. The Superintendence of Cul- tural Heritage has not sent any feedback on this application and its silence in such cases is interpreted as a no objection. In an objection Flimkien Ghall-Ambjent Ahjar warned that if approved, this applica- tion will set a precedent for "anyone to start hacking away at the bastions and to hollow them out from within to pro- vide access." The organization warned that the integrity of Grade 1 Scheduled buildings must be respected fully and not "im- pinged upon by interventions which damage and distort the physical and material fabric of these historical gems." The proposal also foresees the demolition of the Plan- ning Authority's current En- forcement block whilst retain- ing the external facade, and the construction of a receded additional floor. The proposed setback floor will exceed the height of the existing buildings forming part of the Planning Author- ity complex, which are all two floors high. This meanse that it will slightly exceed the height of the bastion walls op- posite the premises, but not the height of the Capuchin Chapel located on top of the bastion walls. PA to make an incision in the bastions A court has cleared a man of the attempted murder of his broth- er by stabbing him with a bro- ken beer glass, after hearing the victim state that he had actually fallen on the glass. 33-year-old Matthew Vassallo from Cospicua was arraigned in court last week, accused of the attempted murder of his broth- er, grievously injuring him, car- rying a weapon at the time of the incident and breaching bail. The court had heard how po- lice officers who went on site had come across a man bleeding profusely from a large wound in his abdomen, enraged and vow- ing to seek revenge against his brother, the accused. His lawyer at the time, Benja- min Valenzia, had told the court that the brother had suffered the injuries when he had fallen on the accused after having too much to drink. This account had been corroborated by the victim and other relatives who had witnessed the incident, the lawyer had said, highlighting the fact that the police report which led to Vassallo's prosecution had been filed anonymously. Testifying earlier this week, Lucas Vassallo, after being in- formed that he could opt not to testify against his brother, told the presiding magistrate that the incident had been "acciden- tal and not deliberate." As nothing else had emerged from the evidence to show the possibility that a crime had been committed, the court ruled that there was insufficient prima fa- cie proof to place the man un- der indictment and ordered his release. Police Inspector Eman Hay- man prosecuted. Lawyer Arthur Azzopardi was defence counsel. Man cleared of attempted murder after victim tells court he fell on glass The man was accused of the attempted murder of his brother, who told the court however that he had actually fallen on a broken beer bottle WORK on a new 110-metre breakwater in Mar- saxlokk has commenced, and will see up to €4 million invested. The structure is intended to protect fishing vessels and trawlers from oncoming rough seas during windy weather. "The new breakwater will provide fishermen with a longer period of time in which they can go out at sea with the peace of mind that they can return back with a safe place to dock their boats," Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg said. The breakwater will extend 110 metres out- wards, and will be six metres wide. The depth of the breakwater will be around three and a half metres below sea-level, and boulders used to absorb the water's impact will be placed on the outer side of the structure. The project will cost around €4 million, and will be financed by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, Parliamentary Secretary for Eu- ropean Union Funds Aaron Farrugia said. Borg said that the Marsaxlokk fishing commu- nity had been asking for this project for around 14 years, adding that it would also benefit tourist hotspots and restaurants in the area. "The project will boost the touristic potential Marsaxlokk has, therefore contributing to the economic activity in the area," Borg said. Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries Clint Camilleri said that the project not only helps to boost economic activity in the area, but also pro- tects the fishing industry as a whole. The project is expected to be completed by next year. Work on Marsaxlokk breakwater gets underway