Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/437144
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 21 DECEMBER 2014 8 News A scientific survey conducted by the Broadcasting Authority places 'Reporter', the weekly discussion programme presented by Media- Today's managing editor Saviour Balzan, as the second most watched programme on the national TV sta- tion, TVM. The ratings based on October viewings and published this week show that the most popular discus- sion programmes are Xarabank and Reporter, followed by Reno Bugeja's Dissett, Brian Hansford's Realtà and finally Times Talk. 'Reporter' is aired on Mondays at 9:55pm and the survey results indi- cate that the late slot does not dis- courage people from viewing it. In reaction to the ratings, Balzan expressed his satisfaction at the re- sults. He said that he tried his best to put forward the questions most tel- eviewers would ask. "I also try and respect the two sides of an argument. The programme re- quires lengthy preparations and I am delighted that viewers are responding well and following the programme," Balzan said, adding that Reporter will continue tackling subjects which people are interested in. Reporter is produced by Saviour Balzan and Frederick Attard, assist- ed by Jean Pierre Cassar and Bobby Cesareo with the assistance of the MediaToday newsroom. Reporter tomorrow will be taking a look at what happened during the year, re-visiting those events which created discussion in the country. Presenter Saviour Balzan will be joined in the discussion by Peppi Azzopardi, journalist Pierre Portelli, radio programme presenter Andrew Azzopardi and lawyer Ramona Fren- do. 'Reporter' will be aired live on TVM tomorrow at 9.55pm. JAMES DEBONO A decision by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) to reject a permit for the internal dem- olition and redevelopment of Villa Degiorgio at the top of Dingli Street in Sliema has now been approved by a Board of Appeal appointed by the new Labour government in 2013. This will pave the way for the construction of eight apartments over three storeys. The façade of the building will be retained but an overlying additional floor will result in a three-storey development on a street where all buildings are two floors high. The site in fact lies in the middle of a unique untouched row of tradi- tional two storey town houses. In 2011 the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) turned down an outline application for the demolition of Villa Degiorgio and the construction of a number of residential apartments with underly- ing garages in High Street, Sliema. Although the façade of the existing building was to be retained, the board cited that the proposed development would compromise the visual integ- rity of the existing streetscape which is until today predominantly that of two floors. The MEPA board also pointed out that the proposed development would create an overdevelopment on the site and negatively impact one of Sliema's 'green lung' open spaces, which are fundamental to the charac- ter of the Urban Conservation Area. The appeals board concluded that the proposed height of the building is lower than foreseen in the local plan, which permits three floors and a penthouse level, ignoring MEPA's original argument that the proposed height did not respect the context of the street. In fact the local plan itself states that "additional floors" should not "detract from the architectural ho- mogeneity" of the existing buildings. Residents have expressed concern that any decision to allow an extra floor on the Villa Degorgio site will commit the entire stretch of road to similar development. MEPA's Heritage Advisory Com- mittee had objected to the internal demolition of the villa and to the additional floor in an area where all houses do not rise above two sto- reys. The permit was issued by MEPA's Appeals Tribuna, composed of law- yer and Labour candidate Simon Micallef Stafrace, Freeport chairman and private architect Robert Sarsero and planner Martin Saliba. Appeals planning board issues Villa Degorgio permit Reporter most watched discussion programme after Xarabank Presenter Saviour Balzan with Joseph Muscat and Simon Busuttil