Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1494946
4 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 15 MARCH 2023 4 NEWS MATTHEW VELLA THE Planning Authority's plan- ning commission has totally ig- nored objections raised by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, as well as other rules protecting heritage buildings, to grant a permit to add six sto- reys on a landmark three-storey Sliema building. Coming hot on the heels of the permit to ruin a turret- ted heritage building in Ding- li Street, the same planning commission – made up Martin Camilleri, Frank Ivan Caruana and Perit Joel Fenech – granted the same architect, Elena Borg Costanzi, another permit that NGO Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar said will destroy the pro- portions and character of the landmark 'Ramel' building on Isouard Street. The Isouard Street streetscape on the side of Ramel Building is protected by law and is un- touched. "The PA is ignoring the protection given under the Local Plans," FAA said. "The Commission went so far as to claim that the project was approved by the Superintend- ence of Cultural Heritage, when just a month ago the Superin- tendence stated: 'the proposed development is not acceptable from a Cultural Heritage per- spective. The Superintendence finds that the transition of the proposed volumes towards the UCA into Triq Nicolò Isouard is not respectful and compat- ible with the remainder of the streetscape in the UCA. A more suitable transition, more re- spectful to the characteristics of the traditional townhouses within the streetscape, is re- quired'." The Superintendence also said the design of the proposed ex- tension was not adequate, and the transition between the old building and the new extension had to be improved vertically, apart from finding the massing to be excessive. FAA spokesperson Astrid Vel- la insisted that such a Catego- ry A Landmark Building was already protected by the reg- ulations that offer "strong pre- sumption against any changes to the facades of the built fabric and ancillary open spaces, street alignment and the addition of accretions in these areas." These rules limit structural interventions to the replace- ment of deteriorated compo- nents, which should be carried out in materials and structures identical to the original, and the removal of incompatible accre- tions from the facades. Impor- tantly, no additional floors or significant structures will be allowed over the existing Cate- gory A properties. Objectors demanded to know what was the point of having regulations when the Planning Authority's own boards ignore each and every one of them in this way. FAA will be appealing the abu- sive permit, expressing disgust that NGOs and the public were spending their time and funds opposing "the Planning Com- mission's collusion with philis- tine speculators". FAA called on the Chamber of Architects to look into this case in the light of its new role to "ensure that all members of the profession act responsibly and ethically, having due regard for sustainable development practices, the protection of the national, cultural, social and en- vironmental heritage" saying its regulatory role should extend not only to private architects, but also to architects on PA boards and commissions. "FAA condemns the fact that members of the Planning Au- thority boards seem determined to destroy more of Malta's built heritage than World War II bombings, destroying the very buildings that have enhanced our towns and villages for cen- turies, in complete disregard of the country's Local Plans, and ruining residents' quality of life." PA bends rules to allow new storeys above iconic Sliema 'Ramel' building FAA appealing permit to add storeys to protected landmark building, in breach of rules protecting Category A property inside urban conservation area The Ramel buildling on Tower Road, corner with Isouard Street THE month of February 2023 once again saw 4.5 million passen- gers travelling by bus, with the av- erage passenger numbers per day rising to 159,000 passengers com- pared to the 146,000 registered in January 2023, indicating a month- on-month increase of 9%. "The continuation of this pos- itive trend is a very important indication that more passengers are opting to travel by bus," said Malta Public Transport general manager Konrad Pulé. "However, our passengers are telling us that it takes too long to get from one place to another by bus, and that more must be done by various stakeholders to give bus passen- gers priority on the road." Over 2.9 million passengers used their Tallinja Card in February 2023, which is an increase of 56% when compared to February 2022 and 27.5% when compared to the same month in 2019. In terms of unique users, Feb- ruary 2023 registered 145,000 Tallinja Card customers. Com- pared to 2022, this means a 46.2% increase and 19.4% to the same period in 2019. When compared to January 2023 figures, there is a 3.6% increase even though there are three less days in February. Registrations for Tallinja Card also saw a sharp increase during February 2023, and registered a staggering 103% increase com- pared to February 2019. "We thank all our customers who are contributing to a cleaner envi- ronment and reduced congestion by choosing to travel by bus," Pulé said. "We would also like to thank our bus drivers, who are carrying our passengers safely, despite all the challenges they face on the road. We look forward to further discussions with stakeholders to implement bus priority measures that will make the public trans- port service more reliable, more punctual and more efficient." Free buses continue positive trend with 4.5 million passengers in February