Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1331044
7 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 20 JANUARY 2021 NEWS JAMES DEBONO A second attempt has been launched to turn a derelict ex- plosives factory into a tourist resort in Dingli, adjacent to a Natura 2000 site. The downsized proposal for the eco-spa resort – consisting of 10 single-story blocks each with a pool – was first present- ed in June 2020, but the deals of the latest application was only published in the last days. La Toc Ltd's previous plans, presented first in 2017, were of 11 blocks and a restaurant, as well as a 64-car park requir- ing extensive excavation. The plans were objected to by the local council and environmen- tal NGOs. The company is owned by Veli Holdings, Dirk Hili, and Bianca Anastasi. But the latest proposal is being made by Sunroute Ho- tels, a company owned by Adri- an Sant, Christopher Sant, Ma- ria Sant and Sarah Sant, which currently owns the Santana Ho- tel in St Paul's Bay. The development is being pro- posed over a 6,275sqm site and lies in a Natura 2000 site set be- tween l-Irdum ta' l-Iħfar and ix- Xagħra tal-Qaws. The factory is located on high ground over- looking the scenic Mtaħleb and Dingli cliffs. The immediately surrounding areas are domi- nated by garigue hat extends all along the cliffs and along the fringes of existing agricultural land. Although contained within the footprint of the disused explo- sives factory, the existing build- ing is still being used as a pre- text for tourist development in what is a pristine and protected area, where such development would not be normally allowed. And while the present plans do not include a restaurant and parking facilities, a commit- ment for tourist development on the site could increase pres- sure for such developments in the future. The Pulvitch explosives facto- ry has 36 one-room stores, ap- proved in 1977, and used for the production of ex- plosives used in the quarrying industry. After the factory was abandoned, several ap- plications proposing new uses for the site were refused by the PA. In its first reaction the Envi- ronment and Resources Au- thority still expressed its overall concern that the presence of an explosives factory is being used as a pretext to introduce a new commitment on site. Noting that hazardous developments such as explosives factories have to be located away from residential areas, such devel- opments should not "serve as a pretext for committing sites for further development." But in an apparent change of heart from its firmer stance against the previously proposed development, ERA noted that "compared to what has been proposed in previous applications, the proposed de- velopment has been downsized and generally contained within the existing massing". The ERA is recommending further consolidation of the built-up areas towards the cen- tral part of the site and allowing more space on the fringes of the property for adequate soft land- scaping. Santana hoteliers resurrect Dingli eco-spa hotel plans NICOLE MEILAK THE Nationalist Party has filed a complaint with the Broadcasting Authority for the "lack of impartiality" from TVM after the national broadcaster made no mention of the Vitals hospitals' court hearing in the 8pm national news bulletin on Monday. The party's secretary-general Francis Zammit Dimech filed the complaint on PBS head of news Norma Saliba after no mention was made of the case or former PN leader Adrian Delia's statement after the hearing, in TVM's evening news report. "I'm sure you know that the ex-Prime Minister Joseph Muscat testified during the case, and among other things it was con- firmed in his testimony that Vitals fulfilled almost none of what was supposed to be a large investment in the health sector of our country," the PN said in its complaint. "This grave incompetence from TVM has created a situation of a lack of impar- tiality within the national station, and an imbalance against the Nationalist Party on something that is without a doubt a current political controversy." The party is asking for an immediate rem- edy to be granted as provided by law. Monday's court hearing saw ex-Prime Minister Joseph Muscat testify to the court on the transfer of three public hospitals to Vitals Global Healthcare. Among other things, he defended his gov- ernment's decision to task the running of the Gozo General Hospital, St Luke's and Karin Grech Rehabilitation Centre to VGH. He said that a Memorandum of Under- standing signed between Malta Enterprise and a group of private investors towards the end of 2014 was terminated at the start of 2015, with a request for proposals issued a few months later. The tender was eventually awarded to the same group of investors. PN complains to TVM after station fails to report Vitals court case Joseph Muscat testified in court on Monday on the Vitals hospitals deal (Photo: James Bianchi/ MaltaToday)