Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/380554
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2014 6 News JAMES DEBONO THE planning directorate, the technical arm of the Malta Envi- ronment and Planning Authority (MEPA) which overviews planning applications, has called on the au- thority to reject an application for a beach concession in Ferro Bay, presented by the Preluna Hotel in Sliema. This could be a clear sign that the MEPA is heeding the objections presented by the Sliema local coun- cil and residents objecting to more beach concessions on the Sliema coast. A petition to protect public spaces which referred to this application and other beach concessions signed by 1,750 residents was also pre- sented by the environmental NGO Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar. A decision on this development is set to be handed down on 24 Sep- tember. The proposal is deemed to breach Structure Plan policy CZM 3, which seeks to protect coastal zones and secure public ownership and access of the coastline. The proposal also runs counter to the North Harbour Local Plan, as it may result in the loss of marine habitats within the coastal zone. The proposed development is seeking to replace the existing con- crete platform of 85 square metres and replacing it with another plat- form made of limestone occupying 265 square metres to create an area which will be used for the hiring of sunbeds and umbrellas. A staircase to link the current beach club to the proposed exten- sion is also being proposed while plans have been submitted to change the existing concrete boundary with one built using "natural" rock. MEPA's Environment Protection Directorate objected to the devel- opment, as it would result in the "obliteration of the natural coast". According to the local plan the site is part of a designated Blue Flag beach area stretching from the Fortress to Balluta Bay, where only development relating to infrastruc- ture, which causes no ecological harm, can be allowed. The Planning Directorate has also called on MEPA to reject an appli- cation presented by Michael Stiva- la, owner of the Bayview hotel, for a beach concession at Qui-Si-Sana, beneath Gnien Bonello du Puis. The beach concession was issued on the watch of the previous gov- ernment through a letter sent by the Government Property Division. Despite the Planning Directorate's clear recommendation to reject Sti- vala's application to use the area granted to him by the previous gov- ernment, for the hire of sunbeds, the Environment Planning Com- mission has not outrightly rejected the application. In fact on Tuesday, in an indica- tion that it may give the applica- tion further consideration, the EPC board gave the architect 10 more days to change plans to keep the first three metres of foreshore free from any structure. A decision on this application is now set for 7 October. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt 'All options open on Armier' - Falzon Michael Falzon does not exclude asking squatters to pay a sum of money for each year of illegal occupation but hints that another option being considered is a "completely different development" on the same site JAMES DEBONO THE 'owners' of the illegal shacks in the Armier shantytown may be asked to pay a sum of money for each year since they started ille- gally occupying public land. This is one of the options being considered by the government in its bid to regularise the beach rooms as promised in an agree- ment signed with the Armier lob- by before the 2013 general elec- tions. A cut off date, probably 1992, will also be established and beach rooms constructed after this date will be demolished. But the parliamentary secretary for planning, Michael Falzon, was tight lipped when asked whether the government was entertain- ing this option, insisting that no agreement has yet been reached and that various options are being considered. "The discussions (with the 'own- ers') are still ongoing, at this stage no option can be ruled out but we are insisting on a holistic ap- proach to resolve this issue." According to Falzon various op- tions have been considered over the past months, including pro- posals for "a completely different development" in the area present- ly occupied by the beach rooms. The option preferred by the pre- vious government was that of re- building the beach rooms accord- ing to rules set in an action plan issued for public consultation in 2002, which was never approved. In 2003 the Nationalist govern- ment promised Armier lobbyists to transfer 230 tumoli of pub- lic land in Armier to the com- pany representing the boathouse 'owners', Armier Developments, through "a title of temporary em- phyteusis". Only 'owners' of beach rooms built before 1992 could benefit from this agreement. The 230 tumoli were to be leased for 65 years, for Lm157,000 (about €365,000) a year – about a deriso- ry €250 a year for each boathouse 'owner'. An additional 500 units were to be built for the public. Subsequently three planning ap- plications for rebuilding the vil- lage were presented by the new company formed by the squatters. Former Prime Minister Law- rence Gonzi reiterated the com- mitment on the eve of the 2008 general election. He also promised to consult with MEPA on ADL's pending application six months after being elected. But when consulted former MEPA chair- man Austin Walker told the gov- ernment that three applications presented in 2004 by Armier De- velopments ran against planning policies, including the proposed Marfa action plan, and could not be approved. Labour had originally signed an agreement with the squatters' lobby in 2002, renewed in 2007, which envisioned the building of beach rooms to replace old boat houses, while offering a number of rooms for new users. But the original agreement also states that all beach rooms in a good state should be retained, while those in a bad condition should be rebuilt at the squatters' expense. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD Planning Directorate against Preluna beach concession Michael Falzon – 'various options are being considered'