Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/388498
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 28 SEPTEMBER 2014 6 News JAMES DEBONO PACEVILLE entrepreneur Hugo Chetcuti has applied to add two storeys to his Bernard Hotel and to the site of the former Bohemia club. The Bernard Hotel, which over- looks St George's Bay and Triq Santu Wistin, is set to rise to 11 storeys, while the hotel being pro- posed on St Rita's steps, is set to rise from five to seven storeys. A new policy approved last month allows all hotels in devel- opment zones to add two storeys. Another policy approved in August 2014 designates Paceville as one of five sites where buildings of over 10-storeys can be developed. The Bernard Hotel dates to the 1970s. An application to redevelop the hotel was made by Anthony Za- hra in 2005. But subsequently, two storeys were added over and above what was approved in the permit. Chetcuti submitted another ap- plication in 2010 to sanction the two new storeys and upgrade the hotel by increasing commer- cial spaces while decreasing the number of rooms. The application was initially turned down because the MEPA board decreed that the amount of commercial space proposed was excessive. MEPA concluded that it made no sense for the developer to be allowed to sanction the two illegal storeys when he intended to re- duce the number of hotel beds. But the decision was overturned at ap- peal stage. The second application foresees the addition of two more storeys to a proposed hotel on the site of the former Bohemia club on St Rita Steps, Paceville. Chetcuti's website also refers to plans for the development of 'Hugo's Heaven', a 55-room hotel which will be set in an unspecified, "excellent" location "where glamor- ous public areas" and "comfortable room designs" will create a "mem- orable" experience for guests. Government hit by daily JAMES DEBONO THE Malta Environment and Planning Authority has slapped an enforcement order and imposed daily fines on the government over an illegal car park in Ghadira, Mel- lieha opposite the green boathous- es in the bay area. Caravans made illegal use of the site until the previous government removed them from the area, fol- lowing an enforcement order is- sued by the MEPA. But recently MEPA issued an- other enforcement order, this time against retaining walls, the deposi- tion of concrete, the construction of a ramp and the change of use of the previously garigue land, to make way for a car park. A spokesperson for parliamenta- ry secretary Michael Falzon, who is responsible for both the Lands Department and MEPA, claims the works on the site are already visible in aerial photos taken in 1994 and the site has been used as a public parking site for the past decades. In 2005, an enforcement or- der was issued against the park- ing of caravans. The structures were removed in 2010. The lat- est enforcement order was is- sued against the Commissioner of Lands with regard to the use of parking. The ministry spokesperson revealed that the site will now be restored to its former state. "Since in this case a daily fine has been imposed by the MEPA, the department has no option but to commission the work to a private contractor in order to restore the site to its former state at the govern- ment's expense." Normally, the Government Property Department tries to establish who carried out this offence and an official letter is issued against the offender in- forming him to remove the il- BIO Hugo Chetcuti opened his first club towards the end of the 1980s. Today he owns a considerable area in Paceville with various pubs, restaurants and entertainment places. His clubs include Hugo's Lounge, Shadow Lounge, lap dancing club Hugo's Passion, Bar Native, Hugo's Tapas, and Havana Club. Hugo Chetcuti's Paceville empire set to rise higher Paceville mogul Hugo Chetcuti is making his mark yet again with two hotels maltatoday, SUNDAY, 28 SEPTEMBER 2014 Hugo Chetcuti's