Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/416739
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 16 NOVEMBER 2014 News 9 JAMES DEBONO A 13-storey building is being pro- posed on 5,870 square metres of land in Mriehel industrial estate. The multi-storey building is set to include three basement parking lev- els, retail outlets in the lower levels and overlying levels as office spaces. The area, which lies within the con- fines of the Qormi local council op- posite the Mriehel industrial estate, is located between Triq l-Ghadam and Triq l-Esportaturi. The application was presented by Albert Sant, a shareholder in Santal Properties Limited. Sant is one of the owners of the JB stores retail outlet and Tal-Lira Limited. Although the site is within develop- ment zones and is enclosed by a wire fence, it is currently undeveloped. In 2008, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority approved an application for the construction of workshops, stores, garages and of- fices on the same site over three sto- reys but this development was never carried out. Mriehel was not included among the localities to be considered for high-rise buildings of over 10 sto- reys, when a policy regulating build- ing heights was first issued for public consultation in November 2013. But it was added to the list by the government before the policy was approved in June. It was the government which rec- ommended the addition of Mrie- hel as a site where buildings which are more than 10 storeys high, can be built, along with Qawra, Marsa, Tigné, Paceville and Gzira. According to MEPA official Joe Scalpello, Mriehel was added be- cause there was already a govern- ment strategy to improve and up- grade the area and its context. Interviewed in The Times in June, Scalpello specified that any devel- opment in Mriehel must safeguard views of Mdina and Valletta, "as there is a sight-line between the two (historical cities), right across Mrie- hel." Planning Ombudsman David Pace had criticised the government for in- cluding Mriehel as a high-rise zone in the approved policy regulating tall buildings. "The inclusion of Mriehel in the approved zones where the policy is applicable, should have been put to public consultation prior to the final approval by the MEPA board," the planning ombudsman told MaltaTo- day in June. Last month an application was presented by the Tumas and Gasan groups to construct four high-rise towers ranging in height between 14 and 19 storeys adjacent to the site of the present Gasan head office on the Mriehel bypass. New 13-storey tower proposed in Mriehel CALL FOR APPLICATIONS The National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE) is implementing a one-year Mentoring Programme with the aim of increasing the number of women in decision-making positions. NCPE is requesting submissions of applications for both mentors and mentees. Both mentors and mentees must dedicate eight (8) hours every four weeks. This forms part of the project ESF3.196 'Gender Balance in Decision-Making'. MENTORS The role of the mentor is to provide job-shadowing, support and guidance to the assigned mentee. Mentors must have at least seven (7) years working experience, holding a decision- making position in the areas of politics, management, NGO/civil society, business, education, health or any other relevant area. Applicants may be both women and men. Mentors will be given a token fee for their services. MENTEES The mentees will be offered training, job-shadowing and will be assisted by a professional to develop specific skills and knowledge needed to attain decision-making positions and other leadership roles. The mentees have to be women who may be at various stag es in their career development, from the very early stages to middle management positions. Interested applicants must aspire to occupy decision-making positions in areas of politics, management, NGO/civil society, business, health, education or any other relevant area. Interested applicants are to register their interest with NCPE by sending an email so that they can receive the Application Form. Deadline for submission of the application is Monday 24th November 2014. Late submissions will not be accepted. NCPE Gattard House, National Road, Blata l-Bajda ĦMR 9010 Tel: 2590 3850 Fax: 2590 3851; E-mail: equality@gov.mt ; W eb: www.equality.gov.mt Operational Programme II – EU Cohesion Policy 2007-2013 Empowering People for More Jobs and a Better Quality of Life Project part-financed by the European Union European Social Fund (ESF) Co-financing rate: 85% EU Funds; 15% National Funds Investing in your future to regularise illegalities dise Bay which is a Special Area of Conservation and a Natura 2000 site. But the consultation document "For an efficient planning system" is- sued in April 2014 proposes the dele- tion of the Sixth Schedule, which will be replaced by the imposition of daily fines. MEPA still has to inform the de- velopers through a "screening letter" whether the application conforms to existing policies. Last month a similar application that is invalid according to the existing law was presented to regularise illegalities in the Grotta disco, which is located in the scheduled Lunzjata valley. In March 2014, the owners of the Paradise Bay restaurant were served with an enforcement order against the construction of an illegal canopy covering the restaurant's terrace, the construction of a room being used as a kitchen, the creation of con- crete paved areas used for placing of sunbeds and umbrellas, the levelling of pathways and the development of cladded boundary walls between sand level and concrete area. The first enforcement notice against concrete paving in the same site was issued in 1993. But in 1999 MEPA issued a permit for additions and alterations to an ex- isting restaurant. Plans presented by the developers show that most of the restaurant area is covered by the 1999 permit which even includes a small area which was never developed, but the stairs and parapet are completely irregular. Two applications to regularise the development were rejected in 2004. In 2008 MEPA issued enforcement notices against two rooms built with- out a permit. A year later an enforce- ment order was issued against the deposit of concrete to form passages, the deposit of construction material and new boundary walls without per- mit on a scheduled property. The lat- est enforcement order was issued last March. Site for high storey tower in Mriehel