Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1172208
11 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 29 SEPTEMBER 2019 JAMES DEBONO A planned five-storey office block by Bank of Valletta on San- ta Venera's main road has been described as "out of scale" by the cultural heritage watchdog. The proposed development is on an already demolished site on the St Joseph High Road, a street characterised by two-storey buildings. The plans of the proposed de- velopment were not available to the public during the public con- sultation period, which has ex- pired. They were only published on the Planning Authority web- site after MaltaToday enquired about them. The development will consist of four levels of underground parking and the construction of five storeys of offices above it. According to the application the development is intended to "house part of the bank's opera- tions". But the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage has already shot down the proposed devel- opment, which it described as an "unacceptable intensification of development" which "will create a negative impact on the charac- ter of the streetscape within the Urban Conservation Area". Moreover, according to SCH the proposal will be "out of scale" with neighbouring develop- ments and will create new blank party walls. It also warned the construction of four-levels of underground parking will create stability prob- lems for the neighbouring build- ings. The PA's design advisory com- mittee also called on the appli- cant to redesign the project in a way that is more in keeping with the character of the streetscape describing the current proposal as one which "jars with it and is out of scale". Unavailable external plans The plans for the project were not available on the PA's website. The period for public consul- tation during which the public could have sent representations was 16 September. The external plans related to the project were only published on Wednesday following a re- quest by this newspaper. A PA spokesperson said the internal drawings of the build- ing were not being made public because it is intended to house a banking operation. A provi- sion of the law exempts banks, airports and buildings related to national security from publish- ing such plans. However, the authority then decided to publish the elevations showing the external facade of the building. The only informa- tion neighbours had was a site notice describing the develop- ment as "the construction of four levels of underground park- ing and construction of Class 4A offices above" and had no way to know how many floors were be- ing proposed. The site was previously occu- pied by an abandoned factory, which has been demolished. A permit issued in 2006 foresaw shops and basement garages and residential units at ground, first and second floors. The ap- plication was recommended for refusal but was still approved by the PA. Works were delayed by a court case initiated by neigh- bours claiming damage to the party wall, which abuts their property. The permit granted to then owner Paul Grech was last re- newed for another five years in October 2013. In the latest ap- plication the bank is listed as the sole owner of the site. NEWS BOV's five-storey Santa Venera block 'out of scale', watchdog says Gozo ministry abandons plans for Blue Lagoon pier JAMES DEBONO THE Gozo Ministry has abandoned plans to construct a proposed extension of the moor- ing platforms to a 133-metre long platform which would have "completely destroyed the natural foreshore of the picturesque blue Lagoon," according to the Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee, a panel which advises the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage on pending applications. The Superintendence had advised the pro- ject's architects to remove the extended pier from their plans after noting that this will "inevitably impact negatively on views of the area" which it described as an "iconic land- scape". The application has now been limited to the resurfacing of an existing access road to- wards Blue Lagoon. Last year the Gozo Ministry had indicated that the urgency to present the application was dictated by the fact that there is "an im- minent danger and risk that the road collaps- es", but plans to construct the new pier were only abandoned in new plans submitted on 19 September after MaltaToday reported the objections made the cultural heritage watch- dogs. The Gozo Ministry had submitted the ap- plication for the construction of a 660sq.m pier and the reconstruction of 915sq.m of an existing road leading to the same pier, a year ago. The new infrastructure was to be construct- ed in the panoramic rocky area between Comino and the Kemmunet islet outside the swimming zone. The Superintendence for Cultural Heritage said such an "unacceptable intensification of development" would create a negative impact on the character of the streetscape within the Urban Conservation Area Today 27th August, 2019 THE DIRECTOR, ASSET RECOVERY BUREAU On behalf of the Registry of the Courts of Criminal jurisdiction ( Malta) By means of a decree given, by the Civil Court (Family Section) on the 8th August 2019, following a request of Louis Sciriha, it was ordered that deputy curators be chosen to represent the absent Valentina Brasovan, in the records of the Application for Mediation 2528/19 AL, in the names 'Louis Sciriha vs Deputy Curators and in the other relative and subsequent acts. By means of an Application ,filed, in the Civil Court (Family Section) in the Records of the Mediation number 2528/19 AL, in the names Louis Sciriha (ID 71682M) vs Deputy Curators for the absent Valentina Brasovan (ID not known) on the 18th July, 2019, the applicant Louis Sciriha (ID 71682M) respectfully pleaded: That the applicant married on the sixth (6) of September 2003, with Valentina Brasovan, a national of Moldovia, with passport number A 0435034. That from this marriage the applicant did not have any children. That he was abandoned by his wife Valentina Brasovan who left the matrimonial home about fifteen years ago and never returned back and he does not have any idea where she is residing. His conjugal life with his wife was rendered impossible due to reasons which are sufficient to bring about the divorce between the parties and thus the applicant prays this Honourable Court to appoint a mediator so that he can continue with the relative procedures for divorce from his wife. Applicant: Louis Sciriha, 83, Triq Ninu Cremona, Paola Respondent: Valentina Brasovan – address not known You are therefore ordered to affix an official copy of this bann at the entrance of this Superior Court and to summon whosoever wishes to act as curator to appear before this Registry within six days and by means of a minute to submit a declaration that he wises so to act. You are also ordered to inform each one that if he fails to make this declaration within the stipulated time, this Court will proceed to the selection of Curators of Office. And after so acting, or if you encounter any difficulty in the execution of this bann, you are to inform this Court forthwith. Given by the Civil Court (Family Section) above mentioned with the witness of the Hon. Mr Justice Joseph R. Micallef, BA, LLD, Doctor of Laws Today 8th August, 2019 Registry of the Civil Courts (Family Section), today 26th August, 2019 ADV. FRANK PORTELLI, LLD For the Registrar, Civil Courts and Tribunals