Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1382687
9 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 13 JUNE 2021 NEWS JAMES DEBONO A case officer is recommending the refusal of transport minis- try plans to turn a Valley Road soakaway reservoir, into a car park catering for growing park- ing needs in the area. The PA's planning commis- sion takes a final decision on 25 May. The 30-space car park is set over the current 850sq.m foot- print, where 13 Ballut trees would have to be removed. A stormwater culvert is being proposed to collect rainwater from the Sta Venera tunnels. A 480sq.m field opposite the site is set to accommodate a round- about as part of the Msida creek project. The open reservoir has a hold- ing capacity of 2,300 cubic me- tres, and was originally intend- ed as a basin for rainwater from the Birkirkara area onto Valley Road. The case said the project runs counter to a local plan policy which precludes development in the remaining part of the val- ley, which is prone to flooding. It was also deemed in breach of the Strategic Plan for the Envi- ronment and Planning, which calls for the safeguarding of ex- isting rainwater harvesting in- frastructure. The ministry said the reservoir has lost its purpose following the completion of the Nation- al Flood Relief Project, which eliminated most of the flow of stormwater on this part of Val- ley Road. It said the reservoir is now prone to fill up with sewage overflows, a health hazard that has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other in- sects. Transport Malta said that since the reservoir takes the stormwater runoff of the first 15 minutes of a flash flood, "it is not recommended that such reservoir is removed before the new/repaired storm water system Valley Road and Msida Creek have been completed and are in operation." Documentation from the ar- chitect of the project to verify whether the proposed culvert will be sufficient to make up for the removal of the reservoir, was not deemed acceptable. The Environment and Re- sources Authority issued its clearance for the development. PA set to refuse Valley Road car park SCAN THIS CODE TO WATCH LATEST EPISODE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT MARISA XUEREB Transport ministry plans to turn Valley Road soakaway reservoir, into a car park catering for growing parking needs