Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1532058
MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt 9 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 2 FEBRUARY 2025 JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt THE Planning Authority has greenlit the construction of an eight-storey block with seven flats overlooking Triq ix-Xatt in Pietà, despite multiple objec- tions from the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage (SCH). The SCH had deemed the de- velopment "unacceptable" due to its "clear negative impact on the value of several scheduled properties in the immediate vi- cinity," particularly Villa Cian- tar, Villa Frère, and their Grade 1 listed gardens. The area is already impacted by a neighbouring develop- ment approved in 2010, which rises to a similar height. How- ever, conservationists fear the new development will further obstruct views from the pro- tected gardens and from the nearby Pietà primary school's garden. The site was previously occu- pied by a dilapidated two-sto- rey building, which was demol- ished following a permit issued to Ciantar Properties Limited in 2017. At that time, only a single dwelling was permitted, and the development included plans to reconstruct the old building, including its tradi- tional balcony, with an addi- tional setback floor, rising to a height of 12.6 metres. When objecting to the cur- rent development, also pro- posed by Ciantar Properties, the SCH raised concerns about the increased scale of the pro- ject compared to the 2017 per- mit. The SCH highlighted that the original permit for the total demolition of the old building was issued on the condition that the new design replicated the historic building's form, preserving some historical character and not further com- promising the streetscape. However, the new building approved last week does not replicate the original structure and would be double the height of the building approved in 2017. In response, the Planning Di- rectorate rejected the SCH's objections, arguing that the proposed height complies with the area's height limitations. It also pointed to similar de- velopments of the same height within the same street, particu- larly the adjacent building. Regarding the design, the di- rectorate noted that the first three levels retain a tradition- al architectural style, featuring mainly vertical apertures and open balconies with wrought iron railings, while the design of the remaining floors adopt- ed a more contemporary style, similar to that of the neigh- bouring property. Reacting to the approval, the NGO Friends of Villa Frère warned that the development would compromise views of the Msida Bastion Cemetery, where John Hookham Frère had buried his wife and sister, from the Grand Belvedere of Villa Frère Gardens. The NGO also warned that the development would "mu- tilate the context of Villa Frère and Giardino Zamittello, both Grade 1 heritage monu- ments," and would overshadow the Hookham Frère Primary School, negatively impacting "the well-being of its hundreds of young pupils." MALTA'S cab sector is set to ex- perience a shake-up in 2025 due to a clampdown by Transport Malta (TM), which could result in some major players losing their operating licences indefinitely. In January 2025, TM began cracking down on cab operators who had ignored regulations re- quiring them to park their cabs in public service garages (PSGs). Since 2023, MaltaToday was among the first to report wide- spread abuse by dozens of cab operators, who have always been bound by law to park their ve- hicles in PSGs overnight. At the time, TM had not sufficiently enforced the law, leading to an unregulated environment where those abusing the system and law-abiding businesses both suf- fered. In October 2023, TM an- nounced new regulations target- ing operators with five or more vehicles in their fleet, aiming to curb abuse in the sector. These operators were ordered to keep their vehicles garaged in a PSG when not in use and were given 12 months to comply. Despite the one-year grace pe- riod, a number of operators still lacked the required garage space. As a result, TM granted them an extension until the end of 2024. Operators were required to submit a planning application showing that they had applied for a PSG. Those who showed TM they were working on securing a PSG were informed that they must have an approved permit by 18 April 2025. This time, TM took decisive action, suspending no less than 69 operators' licences on 7 Janu- ary 2025 for failing to submit the necessary planning application. A few days later, on 23 January, TM suspended the operating li- cence of Malta's largest cab com- pany, WT Global. The company had attracted public attention in April 2024 when MaltaToday conducted an in-depth investiga- tion into its accounts, revealing a staggering revenue growth of 493.9% in just one year, among other questionable practices. In January 2025, the Times of Malta revealed that the compa- ny's operating licence had been suspended. However, while 69 cab opera- tors were stripped of their licenc- es for failing to apply for a PSG, WT Global's licence was revoked due to false declarations made to TM. MaltaToday understands that WT Global had submitted at least eight planning applications for PSGs in 2024. A TM spokesperson told Malta- Today that the declarations con- cerned addresses falsely listed as commercial garages. MaltaToday understands that this issue has been ongoing for years and is not limited to WT Global. The spokesperson explained that once caught, operators who provided false declarations can only have their licence reinstated by appealing the suspension with TM. If the appeal is rejected, the operator can further appeal the decision before the Administra- tive Review Tribunal. The spokesperson added that the authority's architects and technical teams are conducting daily spot checks to identify any other operators who have sub- mitted false declarations. Furthermore, the spokesper- son clarified that the 18 April deadline is a "do or die" date for operators who must secure a PSG. This means that any op- erator that does not have an ap- proved PSG permit by that date will not be allowed to work in the sector. PA ignores cultural heritage watchdog to approve eight-storey block in Pieta Crackdown on cab operators: April deadline for public service garages is 'do or die' The view over Marsamxett harbour to Msida Bastion Cemetery from the belvedere of Villa Frere, showing how the new development will impact the area. (Photo: Friends of Villa Frere) Y-plate cars illegally parked on the street: Operators with five or more vehicles are required by law to have a public service garage where to park all cars when not in use (File photo)