Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1200489
4 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 15 JANUARY 2020 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The post is a full-time job, which means Busuttil will be resigning his parliamentary seat in Malta. This will necessitate a by elec- tion on the Twelfth District. Busuttil became leader of the PN in 2013 after the party lost heavily to the Labour Party un- der the helm of Joseph Muscat. He resigned as party leader after Muscat's second consec- utive landslide victory in 2017. Busuttil's successor in the PN was Adrian Delia, who removed the former's good governance portfolio in 2018 when the Egrant inquiry re- port conclusions were pub- lished. The relationship between Busuttil and Delia has been a bumpy one with the former leader still enjoying the sup- port of a faction in the party that has aligned itself to the civil society movement calling for justice in the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. Yesterday Delia congratu- lated Busuttil and, in posts on Twitter and Facebook and in an official party statement, praised Busuttil's appoint- ment. "His new position and re- sponsibility in the heart of Europe is a testament to his abilities and qualities and the respect that he and the Nation- alist Party enjoys in the EU," he said. Busuttil had served as MEP for the PN between 2004 and 2012. Before that, he headed the Malta-EU Steering Action Committee as part of Malta's EU accession efforts that cul- minated in a referendum victo- ry that saw Malta join the EU in 2004. Busuttil, 50, is a lawyer by profession and specialised in EU law. By election candidates This traditional PN strong- hold saw Simon Busuttil sweep most of the votes in the 12th district. Possible candidates to con- test the by election include veteran PN MP Censu Galea's daughter, Graziella Galea, for- mer St Paul's Bay mayor. But maverick TV presenter Salvu Mallia and radio host David Thake could hold a wildcard. And Sam Abela holds a pos- sible advantage, being listed first alphabetically on the PN ballot. NEWS Property Services Co. Ltd. Situation Vacant We are in the process of employing the following personnel 1) Shutterers 2) Electricians 3) Plasterers 4) Administration clerk 5) Tilers 6) General maintenance Apply by sending an email with your CV to durra172@gmail.com 50, St. Bartholomew Street, Qormi JAMES DEBONO THE Planning Commission has yesterday indicated its intention to approve a large 200-sq.m villa opposite the Castello Dei Baroni wedding hall in Wardija instead of a large and shabby garage of dubious legality. The area where the villa will be located is outside development zones and desig- nated as one of high landscape value. The Planning Commission chaired by Elizabeth Ellul had original-ly turned down the development of the villa in- stead of the gar-age. But its decision was over ruled by the PA's Appeal's Tribu-nal than chaired by Martin Saliba, in April last year. Saliba has been recently ap- pointed to replace Johann Buttigieg as the Au-thority's Executive chairman. Subsequently the owners presented new plans, which were deemed excessive by the case officer. But the Commission has now indicated that it could approve the permit if plans are changed to conform to policy. No buildings in the area are document- ed in aerial photos taken in 1978. A much larger structure was later constructed and is visible in the 1994 photos despite the absence of any permits for this develop- ment. The villa as proposed will include a 200 sq.m basement, which was originally pro- posed over street level. For this reason the case officer recom- mended a refusal but the Planning Com- mission has indicated that it could ap- prove the development if the basement is developed under street level. It was the PA's appeal tribunal, which in April 2019 had issued an outline permit or the construction of a residence and swimming pool in the same site, thus pav- ing the way to the full permit. The permit was originally turned down by the Planning Commis-sion after the case officer argued that the "proposed redevel-opment of the existing illegal spraying activity into a residence," was in breach of policy. But the Environment and Planning Re- view Tribunal had over turned its deci- sion than chaired by Martin Saliba who now serves as the PA's Executive Chair- man. The PA had turned down the develop- ment because no sufficient proof that the garage was ever used as a residence had been presented. But the Appeal's tribu- nal still approved the permit in view of neighboring developments in the area ar- guing that the area should be recognized as a rural hamlet. It also noted that the PA had never issued an enforcement or- der against the gar-age even if no permits were ever traced. Despite the Tribunal's decision to issue an outline permit, the Environment and Resources Authority still objected to the de-velopment noting that the original building visible on the 1968 survey sheet measures approximately 18sqm. Accord- ing to ERA over the years the site was subject to modifications, including the intensification of the small structure in- to a 106sqm garage and surfacing of soil without permission. "The proposed interventions will result in the intensification of a rural building into a fully-fledged villa in an area ODZ." In the assessment of the latest applica- tion the case officer con-cluded that the development as proposed in the full per- mit ap-plication was excessive particular- ly because its basement was above street level. The Planning Commission has now ordered the developer to make changes to ensure that the basement is fully con- structed under street level. It also limited the paved area around the pool to 75 sq. m instead of the proposed 360 sq.m. The case officer had also objected to the design of the building arguing that this would have a "modern appearance" which does not fit with the rural context. A final decision will be taken on 4 Feb- ruary. Wardija car spraying garage set to become a villa The Wardija property 'A testament to his abilities and qualities' - Adrian Delia praises Busuttil's appointment