Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/299616
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 23 APRIL 2014 News 6 Gharghur traffic could gridlock in 2020 Two members on MEPA board voted against McDonald's drive-thru in Ghaghur over traffic concerns related to faulty roundabout JAMES DEBONO THE Malta Environment and Plan- ning Authority were alerted to stud- ies warning of gridlock on Tal-Balal road in Gharghur by 2020, before approving a new McDonald's drive- thru just by a busy roundabout on the same road. Official minutes of a MEPA board meeting held in August 2013, during which the new, tenth McDonald's restaurant and 24-hour drive-thru was approved by nine votes to two, show that studies were presented warning of the impending traffic problems in the area. NGOs' representative Alex Vella, of the Ramblers Association, and the former MEPA deputy chairper- son Sandro Magro, an architect, were the only board members who voted against the restaurant's appli- cation, after expressing concerns on the traffic impact and questioning the procedure used to approve the application. In his presentation, traffic impact study author Dr Paul Gauci ex- plained that as at 2015 traffic vol- umes were projected to be "border- line on the high side", while in 2020 "queuing" was to be expected. But according to Gauci, this situa- tion was the result of the faulty de- sign of the roundabout just outside the McDonald's drive-thru and its adjacent petrol pump station. In fact, the impact on the road network was found to be "within limits" if the roundabout was up- graded. "Since the faulty design of the roundabout was Transport Mal- ta's responsibility, it has accepted responsibility to upgrade the junc- tion," the report stated. Although the McDonald's restau- rant was approved last year, Trans- port Malta is yet to upgrade the junction. Replying to MaltaToday's ques- tions, Transport Malta CEO James Piscopo reiterated TM's commit- ment to undertake the necessary junction upgrade works. "These junction upgrade works will be carried out in accordance with national road infrastructure upgrade priorities." During the MEPA board meet- ing that approved the restaurant, environmentalist Alex Vella had observed that any regular motorist on Tal-Balal road was aware that congestion due to the existing pet- rol station and car wash was proving to be "impossible", noting that in the peak hours the entire length of the road from San Gwann to Naxxar is blocked by slow traffic. On his part, Sandro Magro said the drive-thru could create queuing that trails up to the main road. In reply, Traffic Impact Study consultant Dr Paul Gauci said the restaurant could handle 15 cars per hour. At this point, MEPA chairman Vince Cassar asked what would hap- pen if the drive-thru area happened to be full and whether cars would end up queuing in the main road. Gauci replied that such an eventu- ality was not anticipated, and that the projected volumes anticipated to make use of the facility were less than the ones for the Gudja site (Malta Airport), since other Mc- Donalds exist in the area unlike in the south of Malta. Magro expressed concern as to whether there was adequate space for waiting on the ghost island, to which the developers' architect re- plied that at MIA, McDonald's serv- ices one car per minute. Vella and Magro also disagreed with MEPA's advice that the drive- thru would not result in any "inten- sification of development". MEPA's legal department said that the res- taurant operators did not need a planning control application, be- cause the development would not result in an increase in "volume or density of permitted structure on site". But the two objectors claimed that since the site in question was included in the 2006 rationalisa- tion – which increased development areas – the new restaurant should have submitted a planning control application. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt 32-year-old charged with attempted murder Hamrun shooter accused of the attempted murder of two bar patrons remanded in custody CHRIS MANGION JONATHAN Casha, 32 of Ghaxaq, was remanded in custody after pleading not guilty of the attempted murder of two men during an argu- ment in a Hamrun bar. The incident happened in the early hours of Monday morning inside a bar at Triq il-Kbira San Guzepp. Casha was reportedly drinking in the bar when an argument arose be- tween the three men. The other two men were identified as Carmelo Vella and Ryan Fleri. The court heard how Casha left the bar and called at the Marsa Police Station to file a report against the other men. Noticing that he was un- der the influence of alcohol, the of- ficer on duty assured him he would look into the matter and called Ca- sha's friend to take him home. But Casha couldn't stop dwell- ing on the argument and, at around 12:45am, he took his shotgun, went to the bar and shot at the façade. The glass door shattered and a number of persons were injured. Vella and Fleri suffered slight in- juries. Casha's request for bail was denied. His lawyer described the shooting as an "unfortunate" accident: "This was an unfortunate accident which ended in a bad way. He went home to cool down but for some unknown reason, his mind told him to do oth- erwise." The prosecution objected to the request arguing that although Casha fully cooperated with the investiga- tors the persecution fears he could approach potential witnesses. "One has also keep in mind the serious charges he faces," the pros- ecuting inspector said. Magistrate Francesco Depasquale ordered the Director of Prisons to keep the accused at the Forensic Section, Mount Carmel. Inspectors Sarah Magri and Sav- iour Baldachino prosecuted while legal procurator Noel Bianco ap- peared for the accused. The case is postponed to 29 April. Bulgarian drug trafficker jailed CHRIS MANGION BULGARIAN national Marius Bankov was yesterday jailed for two years and fined €2,400 after he admitted to trafficking co- caine. The police apprehended the 31- year old, who lives in Spain, on 5 April after he landed in Malta. Medical checks revealed he was carrying six capsules in his stom- ach. Court expert Godwin Sammut told the court that the five cap- sules contained 29.25 grams of 38% pure cocaine. The drug has a street value of €1,865. The accused was in posses- sion of another capsule which contained 7.11 grams of cutting agent. Bankov admitted to associat- ing himself with others to traffic drugs, and importing and being in possession of cocaine which was not for his personal use. Magistrate Francesco Depas- quale noted that Bankov had col- laborated with the investigators and filed a guilty plea early in the proceedings. The Bulgarian drug mule was handed a two year prison term and fined €2,400. The court ex- plained that should the accused fail to pay the fine, it will be con- verted into a further jail term. Inspector Malcolm Bondin prosecuted, while lawyer Joseph Ellis appeared for the accused. Youth fined for damaging private property SARA Steer Chetham, 24, of Naxx- ar, was fined €500 after admitting to damaging a vehicle used by her boyfriend. Taking the witness stand, Kane Zammit told the court that in the afternoon of 22 January he was with his girlfriend, Sara Steer Chetham. At the time the couple were arguing because the witness alleged he had seen his girlfriend in a car with another man. The argument escalated and Chetham threw a stone and smashed the rear window of the Renault her boyfriend was driv- ing. The vehicle belonged to a cer- tain Ahmad Kasem. The incident happened at Triq id-Difiza Civili, Mosta. Prosecuting inspector Josric Mifsud explained how the vehi- cle's owner had handed to the po- lice a repairs quote amounting to €174. The youth was charged with damaging private property and breaching public peace and good order. She admitted to all charges. Noting the youth's admission, Magistrate Consuelo-Pilar Scerri Herrera, found the accused guilty as charged and fined Chetham €500. Jonathan Casha Official minutes of a MEPA board meeting show that studies warned of impending traffic problems in the area were the McDonald's drive-thru to be built in the area