Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1220238
JAMES DEBONO A social impact assessment among Gzira residents on a 15-storey high-rise has revealed great construction fatigue inside the harbour town and neigh- bouring villages. Nearly two-thirds of residents in Gzira, Msida and Ta' Xbiex disagreed with the proposed tower on Testaferrata Street, which would stand beside the Metropolis development, and reported a "degree of mistrust, bordering on resentment, to- wards the construction and building industry." The study was conducted by sociologists Marvin Formosa and Maria Brown, and includes a survey carried out in August 2019 among 301 residents from Msida, Gzira and Ta' Xbiex. The decision on the tower, proposed by developer Michael Stivala – also the secretary-gen- eral of the Malta Developers Association – is expected to be taken by the Planning Authori- ty board on 26 March. Apart from the 15 storeys, the tower will have a five-lev- el underground car park. The case officer is recommending the development for refusal be- cause it does not comply with sanitary regulations despite ad- hering to planning policies. But the social impact assess- ment now says residents in the Msida, Gzira, and especially Ta' Xbiex, are showing signs of a "a construction fatigue which may also result in a negative impact on their mental and emotional wellbeing." 52% said they completely disagreed with the proposed project while a further 11% disagreed. 18% were indiffer- ent to the project and only 19% agreed or completely agreed with the development. Residents who disagreed com- plained that Malta already had too many buildings to the ex- tent that it has been overbuilt; mentioned the negative impact on the environment, particu- larly with regards to air, noise and visual pollution; and the increasing pressure on finding parking in the area in question. "In addition, one could observe another emergent theme in the respondents' replies, a de- gree of mistrust, bordering on resentment, towards the con- struction and building indus- try," the researchers said. Respondents who 'agreed' with the project said such pro- jects increase the number of parking spaces, generate job opportunities for a wide range of skilled workers and profes- sionals, and inject more capital in the economy. Respondents with low- er-than-average educational attainment were more favour- able to the project than more educated peers. 41% also insisted there were no positive impacts to the lo- cality. But 25% said it would improve economic activity in the area; 13% said it would will create a higher number of parking places. When asked what worries them most, 26% and 23% re- spectively said Ta' Xbiex would suffer a degree of environmen- tal deterioration, especially from the circulation of dust particles and noise from con- struction, and a reduction of parking places, respectively. When asked which improve- ments they would like to see in the project, 39% said they wanted more public areas that include trees and benches. The researchers recom- mended that the developer in- troduces a user-friendly and well-maintained grievance re- dress system; as well as invest in corporate social responsi- bility, minimise construction waste, dust generation and emissions, noise and vibra- tions, energy consumption and water use; introduce proactive sustainable management of traffic and parking spaces; and collaborate with local councils. Project will spearhead area's development – case officer Despite the unpopularity of the project among residents, the PA's case officer claims the project will "ameliorate the area", which together with the yet-to-be-developed Me- tropolis project contribute to a "holistic public open space in a very dense, hectic and pres- ently run-down urban conur- bation". The total public open space proposed at ground level amounts to 477sq.m of the 839sq.m site. Although works on the 33-storey Metropolis approved 10 years ago are yet to start, the visual impact of the new devel- opment is deemed to comple- ment that of its larger neigh- bour. The case officer recognises that the new project will act as "the starting push for the upgrading of the area" given that the Metropolis project lies dormant, as well as com- plement the 22-storey 14 East Tower. But the case officer is still recommending a refusal over sanitary breaches due to the internal height of the basement parking levels. 5 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 11 MARCH 2020 NEWS To: The Editor, Malta Today Vjal ir-Riħan, San Ġwann SĠN 9016 The Broadcasting Authority would like to place the below advert on Sunday, 8th and Wednesday 11th 2018. Call for Applications: Head of Research & Communications The Broadcasting Authority is seeking to fill the post of Head of Research & Communications Duties and Responsibilities: The ideal candidate shall be required to communicate to the public the Authority's decisions and activities and to assist the Authority in undertaking research to be in a better position to take more informed decisions; and to be well informed of any media developments taking place in other broadcasting regulators in other countries and guide the Authority in being proactive following such developments. Skills and Qualifications: Applicants must be in possession of a Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations or European and International Affairs and at least 5 years experience in the field. The selected applicant must also be in possession of an O'level /MATSEC qualification in Maltese and English and have a good command of spoken and written Maltese and English languages. Applicants must submit a letter of application together with a detailed copy of their CV by: • e-mail to administration.ba@ba.org.mt • not later than noon, Wednesday, 18th March 2020 Late applications will not be considered A detailed job description is to be found on the Broadcasting Authority's website: http://www.ba-malta.org The Broadcasting Authority is a constitutional entity which regulates, licences and monitors all radio and television broadcasts originating from the Maltese Islands. Broadcasting Authority 7, Mile End Road, HAMRUN HMR 1719, Malta. Telephone: +356 2201 6000 Head Research & Communications 2nd SITUATION VACANT - R SCICLUNA LTD Heavy Plant Driver Truck Driver Welder Farmer Electrician Plasterer & Painter Carpenter Housekeeper Contact: Rennie Scicluna on 79497274 62% oppose 15-storey high rise in Ta' Xbiex Residents in Ta' Xbiex Gzira and Msida showing signs of construction fatigue