Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1471185
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 19 JUNE 2022 10 NEWS JAMES DEBONO A pedestrian lift is to link the Marsamxett ferry landing to Valletta's Pea- cock Garden. The plans by the Grand Harbour Re- generation Committee were part of a Labour manifesto pledge, to incentivise the use of the ferry as an alter- native to car trans- port. The lift will be nes- tled inside the San Salvatore Bastion in a way in which only the access cabin will be visible from long distance views. Works will however entail excavation through the bedrock under- lying the bastion. The Super- intendence for Cultural Her- itage acknowledged that the lift would impact on the for- tification wall and the Second World War public air-raid shelter complex inside it. But it accepted that there was a strategic need to pro- vide vertical access from Triq il-Lanca, to Triq Marsamx- ett. It said the proposal was "the best possible solution in terms of achieving a balance between reducing the visual impact and the minimum in- tervention possible within the bastions." Long discussions involving the Superintendence as well as the PA's cultural heritage advisory committee and UN- ESCO's World Heritage Site technical committee took place ahead of the plans. While saying the proposal was acceptable in principle, the Superintendence has yet to issue its final clearance, and requested revised draw- ings that could mitigate or re- duce the visibility or massing of the lift cabin structure. The lift will be nestled in the bastions, to minimum visual impact Vertical lift for Marsamxett ferry Marsamxett ferry lift inside Valletta bastions JAMES DEBONO THE Environment and Resourc- es Authority reiterated its objec- tions to the redevelopment of an abandoned livestock farm out- side development zones into a home for the elderly, despite mi- nor changes to plans in the past months. The 60-bed home on Sqaq l-Imnieqa in the countryside be- tween Naxxar and Gharghur is being proposed by Labour coun- cillor and minority leader Marlon Brincat, an owner of the installa- tions company CE Group. The farm earmarked for the new development is just 200m away from the Golden Care home, al- so approved outside development zones in 2017. The ERA said latest plans show the proposal remained relatively the same, reiterating its concerns on its rural land uptake, the con- version to urban use and intensi- fication of development outside building zones, and the "envis- aged adverse effects on the visual amenity and character of the ru- ral landscape". Curiously, despite the marked impact on the surrounding land- scape confirmed in photomon- tage, the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage has found no reason to object to the project. Noting the proximity of the proposed home to the protected Mitħna tal-Laqx, the SCH con- cluded that the information made available "does not indicate any evident threat to the cultural heritage", adding that it had no objection as long as the project conforms to planning rules. The SCH made no reference to the unscheduled Semaphore Tower built by the British in the 19th century, located right behind the farm. Transport Malta has asked for more information, including swept paths for the largest vehi- cles to access the site, and a block plan showing entry-exit manou- vres for cars to enter the area, as well as a justification for a pro- posed right-turn prohibition on Triq San Gwann. The Naxxar local council re- cently objected to the develop- ment, warning that the approval of the elderly home would have wider impacts, including "exten- sive remedial works" to the rural Sqaq l-Imnieqa to ensure safe ac- cess. "The question arises about the suitability of the site as an old people's home, if there is the need for such extensive modifications to the road network to accommo- date the development," the coun- cil said. The Għargħur council had ob- jected to the project way back in 2017. Marlon Brincat declared his in- volvement in the project to the Naxxar council from the early stages of the development and has not participated in council discussions on the project. Re- acting to the council's objection, Brincat affirmed his willingness to address these concerns. "As a developer I can assure you that we always give due consideration to all objections and concerns that are brought to our attention and, in so far as it is possible, we ensure to address them compre- hensively." ERA reiterates objection to Gharghur home