Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1514108
16 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 7 JANUARY 2024 JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt A row of terraced houses in Ta' Xbiex is falling like dominoes to make way for seven-storey apart- ment blocks with the Planning Authority's blessing. The PA is set to approve the demolition of another terraced house in Triq il-Kosbor almost a year after approving two other developments despite objections by the Superintendence for Cul- tural Heritage. The new development will ef- fectively seal the fate of the area that was dominated by terraced houses. Moreover, another pencil de- velopment which could have a similar domino effect is being proposed in another row of ter- raced houses in Triq il-Watar. Another similar application has been presented in Triq il-Halg. The property earmarked for demolition in Triq il-Kosbor forms part of the housing estate that was built in the 1970s. It is part of a row of six terraced hous- es built of similar design and pro- portions, separated by discerni- ble green spaces. The application was presented by Josef Dimech. On the same street, the Plan- ning Authority last year approved two similar applications, one pre- sented by Joseph Portelli's Excel Limited and another by Fijo Mas- rija Ltd. Both applications were ap- proved despite strong objections by the Superintendence for Cul- tural Heritage. After its objections were ig- nored, the heritage watchdog has now issued its clearance for the latest proposed development, which is slated for approval. The case officer report itself re- fers to the previous approval by saying that the proposed design of the latest project is identical to what was approvedon the ad- jacent site. In its objection to the previous developments, the Superintend- ence for Cultural Heritage had noted that the buildings in the ar- ea have a "degree of architectural value" as part of a legible street- scape. "These houses and apart- ment blocks are laid out with an evident degree of formality, jux- taposing open spaces and built volumes, with contained heights and standardised design, reflect- ing a clear and coherent vision for urban design." The SCH said this kind of urban design was a "significant aspect of architecture", and reminded that landscapes and groups of build- ings fall within the definition of cultural heritage as according to Article 2 of the Cultural Heritage Act. The Fijo Masrija development was approved following slight changes to the design, after the PA's planning commission ex- pressed concern that a proposed facade did not respect the street's "existing design and rhythm", running counter to the SPED. In a subsequent meeting, the devel- opment was approved following changes which retained the same height. That first approval triggered the approval of another six-storey block proposed by mega-develop- er Joseph Portelli's Excel Limited. Even this project was opposed by the SCH for the same reasons. The PA's case officer had also recommended a refusal because the glass railing proposed on the facade did not relate to the exist- ing site context and surrounding area. But this problem was ad- dressed in new plans to replace the square apertures with arched ones and the application was ap- proved. Both applications were ap- proved before a landmark court decision which overruled the approval of a five-storey devel- opment in a row of townhouses in Santa Lucija, another post war town characterised by uniform rows of houses interspersed with green spaces. In the meantime, another ap- plication for another similar de- velopment has been presented by United Developments Ltd, to replace another terraced house in Triq il-Watar with a similar seven storey development. The application refers to the potential height of neighbouring proper- ties. Another application pre- sented by JS Dimech Ltd envisag- es the demolition of two terraced houses in Triq Il-Halg to make way for ten apartments and two maisonettes. Ta' Xbiex terraced houses falling like dominoes with PA's blessing THE heart-breaking death of a long-suffering horse is subject to further investigation and legal ac- tion, the Animal Welfare Ministry has confirmed. The horse called Zodiaco died on 1 January in a severely emaci- ated state after his owner left him thirsty and hungry. A veterinary investigation re- vealed that the horse had resorted to consuming stones, glass, and pieces of wood to keep it from starving to death. It died in the hands of a horse rescuer despite the best efforts to save it. The ministry told MaltaToday that the Animal Welfare Directo- rate had received a report late on 30 December concerning the state of this horse. "The ensuing morning, an onsite inspection was entertained with the assistance of the police and competent staff from the Animal Health and Welfare Department in the presence of an official veter- inarian," a ministry spokesperson said. "The findings of the inspection led the Directorate to seize the horse and arrangements were made for fostering it. The case is subject to further investigations and legal action." The horse was transferred to a horse rescue farm where it died the day after. Zodiaco was a racehorse that had been retired by its first owner. When asked about enforcement measures, the ministry spokesper- son explained that inspections are conducted on a "risk-based ap- proach according to urgency," af- ter a report of an ill-treated animal is received. "Additionally, the Directorate may trigger on its own initiative surprise inspections to verify com- pliance with the laws in force." In 2023, the Animal Welfare Di- rectorate carried out more than 1,143 inspections covering 853 reports on cases of animal neglect and abuse. "A total of 68 cases are subject to ongoing legal action, through either issuance of administrative fines or through issuance of crim- inal charges," the spokesperson said. Meanwhile, Animal Welfare Commissioner Alison Bezzina is drafting recommendations that would require horse owners to be responsible for their animals until their death. Bezzina told MaltaToday most horses brought to Malta are race- horses that are usually retired by their owners and sold locally at a relatively early age since they will no longer be fit to compete. She said some racehorse enthu- siasts are blinded by competition and are often in a hurry to replace their older horse with a new one, completely disregarding the well- being of the steed. Another prob- lem arises when the older horses are sold to horse carriage owners for a new tiring profession, she added. "This is not my idea of re- tiring a horse." These grim circumstances for horses prompted Bezzina to start drafting recommendations to government, which would bind horse owners to take care of each horse they own until they die of old age. "I truly hope government will implement these recommenda- tions after they are published," Bezzina said. Investigations ongoing into heart-breaking horse death