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maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 7 MAY 2014 News 4 Download the MaltaToday App now e Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) gives notice to the public that it intends to carry out a partial review of the South Malta Local Plan for the site located along Triq Ħal Millieri, Triq in-Nigem, Triq il-Ħabb il-Qamħ and Triq il-Lellux, Għaxaq through the following Planning Control Application: PC 01/14. It is recommended to amend condition regulating building height limitation of site, established by PC 0071/07, by eliminating the following conditions: (a) No penthouses are allowed on the site, and (b) No washrooms are allowed. Consequently, the amended condition dening the maximum height limitation on site shall read: Building Height : 3 Floors with Basement, no Semi Basement allowed. Individuals and organisations are being invited to send their initial submissions pertaining to this recommendation. Representations are to be made in writing to the: Director of Planning Attention: South Malta Local Plan Team Forward Planning Division, P.O. Box 200, Marsa MRS 1000 Or can be sent through email address: pc01.2014@mepa.org.mt Submissions must be sent to the Authority by 2 nd June 2014. For more information visit our website; http://www.mepa.org.mt/public-consultation PARTIAL REVIEW TO PLANNING POLICY Triq Ħal Millieri, Triq in-Niġem, Triq il-Ħabb il-Qamħ and Triq il-Lellux - Għaxaq Public Consultation - Phase 2 €20 average discount on school uniforms, prices locked MIRIAM DALLI SCHOOL uniforms will cost an av- erage of 10% less and the prices will be locked for the coming five years, Education Minister Evarist Bartolo announced yesterday morning. The 10% reduction should translate to an average €20 discount on each uniform. By way of example, uni- forms of students attending St Mar- garet's College will now cost €197.20 from €218.95; parents whose chil- dren attend St Nicholas College will now pay €199 instead of €226.10. "The tender has been adjudicated and we will be able to announce the supplier in a few weeks' time, after the appeals period expires," the min- ister said. According to procurement laws, entities must allow an appeals pe- riod, even when there are no appeals to the tender. The new supplier must provide better uniforms, after parents complained of lack of quality. The ministry has improved uniforms' specifications and prices will remain unchanged until 2019. A survey distributed among all primary schools last November also found a surprising 75% who declared they didn't want any changes to the uniforms. The surprise percentage comes after years of parents' com- plaints on quality and prices of uni- forms. "I was surprised as well by the re- sults, but it also could be that parents had already bought their children's new uniforms, fearing they would have to buy again," Bartolo said. 17% said they wanted their chil- dren's uniforms simplified, in other words, for their children to wear only a track-suit to school. Only 4% of the parents said they didn't want any uniforms. "We will respect the parents' de- cision and the only thing that will change will be an improvement in the quality and better prices." 'No beating about the bush', AD tells politicians on spring hunting MIRIAM DALLI POLITICIANS should take a clear stand on spring hunting, allowing the electorate to know where they stand with each party, Alternat- tiva Demokratika said. "While it is clear that the spring hunting issue will be decided by the people in the referendum that they have asked and worked for, it is the duty of politicians to take a clear position and make their opinion clearly known to the peo- ple," AD chairperson Arnold Cas- sola said. AD was reacting to comments made by leader of the Opposi- tion Simon Busuttil during a po- litical activity in Gozo on Monday evening. The PN leader said that politi- cians should not get involved in the hunting controversy. He ar- gued that the matter should be de- cided by the citizens. The Electoral Commission is currently verif ying the 45,000 sig- natures collected by the Coalition Against Spring Hunting (CASH), petitioning an abrogative referen- dum. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has meanwhile expressed his sup- port for spring hunting, telling Gozitans that promises made to trappers will also be honoured. The Labour leader has however insisted that an abrogative refer- endum was not at the discretion of politicians and it is the electorate that has the last word. Cassola has insisted that politi- cians should make their princi- ples clearly known and to be clear about what they stand for. "Sitting on the fence and keeping mum about important national is- sues is tantamount to admitting that politicians have abdicated their responsibility to stand for values and principles," he said. AD deputy chairman Carmel Cacopardo pointed out that the green party was always consistent throughout its 25 years of exist- ence, campaigning for the aboli- tion of spring hunting. "Unfortunately, as a result of backroom deals between the hunting lobby and the parties in parliament, Malta is now facing this mess. This mess can only be cleared up by a popular vote through an abrogative referendum in the coming months," he said. PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD Education Minister Evarist Bartolo (centre) promised that the "only thing which will change" would be an improvement in the quality of uniforms, and that prices will be reduced Alternattiva Demokratika deputy chairperson Carmel Cacopardo (left) and chairperson Arnold Cassola

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