Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1505323
6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 9 AUGUST 2023 NEWS NEWS Tribunal revokes Bonnici Brothers' hotel permit in Milner Street JAMES DEBONO THE Environment and Planning Tribunal has revoked an out- line permit for the construction of a nine-storey hotel in Milner Street Sliema, designated in local plans as a residential area. But in its decision the tribu- nal left a window open for the development to be approved as a hostel instead of a hotel; a use permitted in the local plan pol- icy listing the kinds of develop- ment which can be developed in residential areas. In its decision the EPRT or- dered the Planning Authority to reconsider the application and to recommence its consultations, but only after the hotel proposal is replaced by one for a hostel. The hotel development was approved by the Planning Au- thority in January 2022 despite being recommended for refusal by the case officer. In its deci- sion the Planning Commission chaired by Stephania Baldachi- no had cited a flexibility poli- cy– that gives the PA flexibility in assessing tourism develop- ment if it is compatible with the surrounding neighbour- hood. The decision was later ap- pealed by the Sliema local council. During the appeal Bonni- ci Brothers argued that three hotels already operated in the vicinity of the proposed ho- tel, but the tribunal dismissed the argument arguing that the proposed development would further erode the residential nature of the area which was still predominant in this part of Sliema. Moreover, two of the hotels mentioned by the developer faced the Tower Road prom- enade while the other hotel overlooked Triq L. Graham. The tribunal warned that the "proliferation of hotels in this residential zone would have negative impacts on the resi- dential community due to the increase of commercial devel- opment". The development which was originally proposed over 13 floors was later slashed to an additional seven storeys over the existing two floors. As ap- proved the development was to consist of 23 hotel rooms, a bar and lounge area and a breakfast and dining area. In its appeal the council had also objected to the develop- ment due to its traffic impact, noise, the take up of 11 on street parking spaces and had described the development as a bad neighbour development. The council also objected to the approved height arguing that this will create a blank party wall over surrounding residences. But the tribunal did not con- sider these objections which will have to be dealt with by the Planning Authority when con- sidering the new application for a hostel. The tribunal also noted that during the appeal proceedings the developers had expressed their propensity to change the proposal for a hotel into one for a guest house which is per- mitted by the local plan. The tribunal decision could have a bearing on another pending appeal against the approval of a hotel in Parisio Street which was also approved based on a "flexibility policy" cited by the same PA board to justify the hotel development in a residential area. MATTHEW VELLA MALTA'S Dominican Order will be cele- brating the feast of St Dominic in the city of Birgu during August with the rare show- casing of one of the many relics claimed to belong to the body of St Thomas Aquinas – one of the Church's great philosophers. The St Dominic feast will be celebrated from 19 to 27 August, with Pope Francis issuing a plenary indulgence to anyone at- tending the celebrations connected to St Thomas of Aquinas during three major anniversaries in 2023, 2024 and 2025. A plenary indulgence is a powerful re- mission of punishment that would have resulted from sins that were already for- given. In Catholic theology, this covers all sins, mortal or venial, that the recipient has committed up to that time, if the per- son sincerely repents. The Dominican Order is celebrating the 700th anniversary from Aquinas's canoni- sation – 18 July, 1323 by Pope John XXII – as well as 750 years from his death in 2024, and then 800 years from his birth in 2025. The relic arrives in Malta from Rome on 19 August, with a mass celebrating its arrival at the Church of the Annuncia- tion, led by Provincial Vince Micallef OP. The congregation will then proceed to walk to the Church of the Holy Trinity, to welcome the St Thomas Aquinas relic. The relic will then be moved back to the Church of the Annunciation, where it will be crowned and celebrated with an antiph- onal song and given a holy blessing. The relic will be on show at the Church of the Annunciation up until the 27 August. St Thomas Aquinas died March 7, 1274, and was canonized on July 18, 1323. He was made a doctor of the Church in 1567. Aquinas was a Dominican friar and priest and is considered one of the Church's greatest teachers, philosophers, and theo- logians. Some of his greatest accomplishments are his works of theology. These include the Summa Contra Gentiles, the Compen- dium Theologiae, and Summa Theologica. Nearing death, he made a final confession and asked for the Eucharist to be brought to him. In its presence, he declared: "I adore you, my God and my Redeemer … for whose honour I have studied, laboured, preached, and taught." Relics of holy people as well as the alleged ones pertaining to Jesus of Nazareth were once the key to worship for Christendom's propaganda masters, as aptly recounted in the Umberto Eco novel Baudolino. Many still remain cherished and revered at the heart of Christianity. The Domini- can Order in Vittoriosa previously wel- comed a relic of Saint Dominic himself in Malta to mark the eighth centenary from the death of their founder: the cranium of St Dominic from the Dominican Monas- tery of Monte Mario in Rome. Aquinas relic for Malta's St Dominic feast marking philosopher's canonisation The feast of St Dominic in Vittoriosa will display a St Thomas Aquinas relic, for which Pope Francis has granted 'plenary indulgence' on sins for participants in Aquinas celebrations