Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/451763
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 25 JANUARY 2015 9 News MEPA offers legal substitute to illegal beach restaurant on Golden Bay JAMES DEBONO THE owner of the illegal 'Munchies' restaurant in the middle of Golden Bay is set to get a permit for a res- taurant partly located under the beach's car park, which will also in- clude a terrace overlooking the pic- turesque bay. The case officer's report calling for an approval of the restaurant claims that the new permit is not meant to provide a "substitute for the offend- ing (illegal) structure", but acknowl- edges that this "effectively will be the end result". But the case officer has insist- ed that the Planning Directorate would still have recommended the project's approval "had there been a different applicant". One of the three reasons for ap- proving the permit is that it will re- move the existing kiosk, sited as it is within a Level 1 area of ecological importance. The proposal involves the con- struction of a restaurant located un- der the existing public car park. The proposal entails digging into the car park to reach the beach level and create an underground space for the new establishment. The main outlet for the new unit will therefore be in line with the current alignment of the retaining wall of the car park, representing the only "façade" of the new establishment at this level. This proposal was already ap- proved in principle in 2005, but back then the outline permit speci- fied that all structures were to be built under the car park. The present proposal, which is larger than the illegal restaurant set to be removed, also involves the construction of an access in the ex- isting car park occupying 24 square metres and a terrace to accommo- date a number of tables and chairs. "The newly created terrace will provide an open space overlooking the beach from a higher level, thus providing a belvedere type terrace which will be used for the placing of tables and chairs," the case officer's report states. The layout of the proposed restau- rant includes a customer floor space of 180 square metres, a kitchen and preparation area, bar, stores, freezers and cold room and other ancillary facilities, such as lockers, changing room and toilets for an ad- ditional floor area of approximately 340 square metres. Another reason for the approval of the new restaurant is that both the illegal kiosk on the sandy beach and the staircase leading from the road must be removed. The other rea- son is that the latest plans limit the structures at ground floor (car park) level to a maximum floor space of 45 square metres. Some development at basement level will be required to minimize the food safety hazards. A kiosk-type structure will provide access from the car-park. In 2008, MEPA's advisory commit- tee on natural heritage demanded the authority stop processing this application because it was in breach of the outline permit, since part of the construction was above road level. Photomontages of the project presented by the applicant in fact show an intensification of cluttered development on the hotel side of the beach. The Call for FUSION: The Research & Innovation Commercialisation Voucher Programme is now open! The Malta Council for Science and Technology has recently launched a Call for Funding under FUSION: The Research and Innovation Programme. The Call provides funding to support the assessment of the commercialisation potential of innovative ideas which your organisation would like to subsequently advance through further research and technological development. This Call is open both for the academic and public sectors (100% funding) and the private sector (75% funding). The call closes at noon on the 28th February 2015! Further information can be obtained from http://www.mcst.gov.mt/news or by calling on 2360 2115, 21660340 or 2360 2172 The Malta Council For Science And Technology, Villa Bighi, Kalkara KKR 1320, Malta www.mcst.gov.mt UHM flags Enemalta transfers THE Union Haddiema Maghqu- din expressed concern over arbi- trary transfers ordered at Enemalta, insisting yesterday that no worker should have any pay deducted in the reorganization process. The UHM ordered employees in Gozo to refuse transfers that would affect wages, after Enemalta had or- dered them to hadn in their work keys and Enemalta tag, without any explanation. "This is unacceptable for the UHM. Enemalta workers have their dignity and deserve bet- ter treatment," the union said. The UHM said this was not the first time Enemalta management had approached workers on trans- fers to a new job with lower income. "Enemalta's health and safety offic- ers were offered a job with the OH- SA at with inferior conditions. The same happened to fire-fighters." The UHM said that generation section employees will next week be informed of a change in shift hours that will also result in lower earnings. As it will be, legally... access through a kiosk-style entrance on car park level, and the new Munchies restaurant built beneath the car park