Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1382687
JAMES DEBONO THE daughter of Gozitan con- struction magnate Joseph Portel- li has now applied to regularise a concrete platform, built four months after the Planning Au- thority issued her with a permit for a 'store' and also sanctioned illegally-built rubble walls. The 20sq.m "agricultural store" belonging to registered farm- er Chloe Portelli, the daughter of Mercury House developer Joseph Portelli has already ex- panded through the creation of a 20sq.m concrete platform. The store approved by the Planning Authority in February is located on a 23,000sq.m plot of land owned by Portelli in the vicinity of the Kennuna tower in Nadur, from which one can enjoy idyllic views of Malta and Comino. In February the PA regularised the construction of a long stretch of highly visible rubble walls on the same site, after imposing a €1,200 fine. The site of the rub- ble walls is a continuous stretch of open terraced land known as il-Ġebel l-Aħmar on the south- ern countryside of Nadur, facing the village of Għajnsielem, and is highly visible from various sur- rounding areas. The Gozo and Comino local plan shows the area designated as an Area of High Landscape Sensitivity. The Superintendence for Cultural Heritage had also warned that the unbroken band of high rub- ble walls is resulting in a visual intrusion within a significant cultural and rural landscape. Apart from sanctioning the concrete platform in front of the newly constructed store, Portel- li's new application also seeks to regularise the deposit of soil on a 1,485sq.m. parcel of land. The case officer's report had originally justified the new store because it would be serving a stretch of registered arable land in Nadur of over 18 tumolo. Chloe Portelli had submitted proof that she works this parcel of land in the form of photo- graphic evidence showing the site is being cultivated together with agricultural receipts. Originally Portelli had applied for a 40-sq.m store but this was reduced in size to en-sure that it fulfils the criteria set in the ru- ral policy. As approved the store was to be constructed in recy- cled stone and fitted with tim- ber-painted green apertures. Prophetically, in its objection to the store the Environment and Resources Authority had warned that further applica- tions would follow to extend and amend the development "to create a structure which is better suited for residential purposes". 8 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 13 JUNE 2021 NEWS Portelli's Nadur 'store' gets a platform Iklin says no to Balal car wash 'Farming' scion of mega-developer Joseph Portelli adds platform to agricultural store Room with a view: prophetically, in its objection to the store the Environment and Resources Authority had warned that further applications would follow to extend and amend the development "to create a structure which is better suited for residential purposes". JAMES DEBONO THE local council of Iklin has warned against a proposal for a car wash and kiosk with sit- ting area, adjacent to the Liquid nightclub, saying it will increase traffic flows to the area. The site is a walled vacant plot outside the development zones, overlooking the five-arm round- about on the Tal-Balal road of San Gwann. The entrance to the car wash is on the Tal-Balal road just off the roundabout, while the exit will be a narrow rural road, Triq il- Ħwawar, which leads either to- wards Iklin or back to the round- about. The Iklin council is object- ing to the application due to its implications on traffic flow and safety, and the sprawl outside the building zones. It warned that if the development is given the go-ahead, cars will exit onto the rural road where the sight- lines onto the roundabout are "already significantly compro- mised". Transport Malta has yet to de- clare its opinion on the propos- al, but has asked the Planning Authority to establish whether a transport study is required for this proposal. The Malta Tourism Authority has also objected to the develop- ment on the basis of its standard policy against any new kiosk not part of a wider project that is of benefit to the community. Site owner Andrew Gauci pre- sented the application. The PA recently rejected the installation of billboards on the same site, this time presented by Aria club owner Dominic Micallef. The decision was con- firmed on appeal in 2018, with the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal warning of the danger of the billboards to traf- fic. There had been no clearance from Transport Malta, which had failed to give any feedback on the application. The present application also foresees the erection of adver- tising billboards. It is one of sev- eral ODZ applications proposed on Tal-Balal, including one for a warehouse instead of a rural dwelling right opposite the pro- posed car wash. Further down the road, a supermarket and DIY centre are being proposed by JDG Holdings Ltd. Another application foresees the devel- opment of eight workshops and nine warehouses in a disused quarry opposite the proposed car wash. A car wash is already located less than 1km away at the VC petrol station, which houses a McDonalds outlet.