Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1379276
7 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 2 JUNE 2021 NEWS TOWNSCAPES Ramblers raise alarm over Bahrija gate and rubble wall JAMES DEBONO A company whose ownership has yet to be established is requesting planning sanction- ing of an illegal gate it erected to block ac- cess to Balta tal-Melħ, in Baħrija. The company, Touchstone Ltd, also wants to build a 95m-long, 1.2m high rubble wall around land the company says it owns in the picturesque and archeologically sensi- tive ix-Xagħra tal-Vikarju in Baħrija. The rubble wall will effectively turn the open and scenic walkway into a corridor. It is so far unclear as to whether this is the same Touchstone Properties Limited that is owned by the Baħrija landowners Eliza Lim- ited, which had acquired the land claimed by the feudal title of the Barony of Baħria. Back in 2005, the company had attempted to evict farmers after buying a 1,500-tum- olo parcel from Salvatore Consoli-Paler- mo-Navarra, whose heirs sold the land for some €2.5 million. Touchstone Properties is owned by Carmel Baldacchino, Eman- nuel Baldacchino, Joseph Baldacchino, An- thony Cuschieri, George Cuschieri, Geran- zio Cuschieri, Generoso Sammut, Noman Zammit and Anthony Galea. The company's latest accounts lists its asstes as proeprty for resale, namely 1,113 tumoli of land in Baħrija. The land is valued at €2.73 million. In June 2019, the company entered into an agreement with its banks to settle a €1.25 million loan repayment. The Ramblers Association is objecting to the application. RA's president Ingram Bondin wrote to the Planning Authority noting that Touchstone limited is not listed on the public registry. "The company name should either be corrected on the public ap- plication form or the application should not be processed." The Superintendence for Cultural Herit- age has already expressed concern on this application, noting that the site in question is located in a pristine cultural landscape in an area is of considerable archaeological sensitivity with numerous examples of cart ruts recorded in the surrounding landscape. The Baħrija Bronze Age Settlement is locat- ed just over 100m to the north. The Superintendence is objecting to the proposed rubble wall, noting the relative- ly open, scenic nature of the area would be disrupted by the introduction of rubble walls. The Superintendence further noted that the PA's 2016 aerial images indicate the presence of a structure not present on 1968 survey and for which no development permit could be traced. JAMES DEBONO TWO three-star hotels are being earmarked for a dis- used Sliema garden area on the Zimmermann Barbaro alleyway just off Bisazza Street. The 16-storey hotel project will comprise 178 rooms on the corner site of Bisazza and the Markizi Zimmer- mann Barbaro streets, inside a narrow alleyway. One of the two hotels will consist of self-catering units while the other one will include traditional guest rooms. The project involves the demolition of a number of existing old dwellings fronting Zimmermann Barba- ro street, described as "dilapidated", but which include a townhouse with a traditional balcony and is over 100 years old. The project will gobble up an adjacent 375sq.m unde- veloped green area behind the existing buildings, which forms part of a more extensive garden. Dale Spiteri, the proponent of the project, had already applied to build an office block instead of Zimmermann Barbaro townhouses. The Superintendence for Cultural Heritage objected to the proposal due to the architectural value of the town house in question. The application was later withdrawn. The building will be the highest one along Bisazza Street which already includes a number of 10-floor buildings, but will dwarf an adjacent townhouse on Zimmermann Barbaro street. A "piazza" occupied by chairs and tables for the hotels' restaurants is being proposed along part of the frontage on Triq Markizi Zimmermann Barbaro. The hotels will have an indoor pool, gymnasium, spa at an underground level, two restaurants at ground level, an outside catering area, and an outdoor pool at roof level. Sliema garden earmarked for 16-storey hotel