Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/513060
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 17 MAY 2015 8 News JAMES DEBONO MORE tables and chairs will be placed on the Gzira strand, after the Malta Environment and Planning Authority's environment and plan- ning review tribunal approved an extension of the pavement in front of the former Portside restaurant. The tribunal said in its decision that as things stood, the strand's pavement was one "more akin to a food court arcade" instead of an area ideal for al fresco dining, con- cluding that a compromise had to be reached between commercial needs and the rights of pedestrians and residents. In February 2014, MEPA rejected the application because two park- ing spaces would be lost from the pavement extension, "exacerbating potential highway danger and ve- hicular and pedestrian conflict". It also said the proposed pedes- trian passage was not located be- tween the area reserved for tables and chairs and the edge of the pave- ment, but between the premises and the al fresco area, leading to "a conflict between pedestrians and customers". But applicant Michael Stivala in- sisted that the application be treat- ed the same way as the one which envisaged a similar pavement ex- tension in front of the Black Gold restaurant, approved by MEPA in 2013 after a clearance was issued by Transport Malta. So the review tribunal concluded that although parking spaces would be lost, this would not constitute any danger to pedestrians, and that cars would have to be parked paral- lel instead of perpendicularly to the pavement. It also said that the condition for pedestrian passages to be located between the al fresco area and the pavement's edge, only applied to the fast-track DNOs (development notification order) and not to full permits like the one in question. The tribunal said it sympathised with residents objecting to the de- velopment, acknowledging that similar development along the strand was having a negative im- pact on the amenity of the area. "The roofing of table and chair areas does not result in a positive appearance and this is resulting in a 'food court arcade' along the whole pedestrian passage of the strand, which has a negative impact on the public space and the amenity which are the main factors why this area is attractive for al fresco dining," the tribunal noted. The tribunal issued the permit on condition that no permanent struc- tures or tents are erected on the ta- bles and chairs area. But the owners are allowed to set up umbrellas and lightweight tents, and must delineate the al fresco area with planters not higher than 1.5 metres. "If these conditions are adhered to a compromise may be reached be- tween the concern of residents and the demand for tables and chairs," the review tribunal decided. Green light for 'al fresco pavements' despite resident objectors Alfred Mifsud drops directorships for Central Bank deputy role MATTHEW VELLA THE new deputy governor of the Central Bank, Alfred Mifsud, relin- quished all directorships he held in companies he represented, prior to his appointment. Mifsud, 63, was appointed deputy governor for monetary affairs on 5 May, replacing Alfred De Marco, who was appointed deputy gover- nor in 2010. Mifsud is the founder of Crystal Finance, which once employed Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, and which also counts Identity Malta executive chairperson Joe Vella Bonnici as a director, and the daughter of former National- ist minister John Dalli, Clare Gauci Borda. A finance ministry spokesperson said that Mifsud will, in terms of the Central Bank Act, "devote the whole of his professional time to the service of the bank and shall not occupy any other office or employ- ment, whether remunerated or not. "For this purpose Mr Mifsud, well before his appointment, has relin- quished all his posts, engagements and directorships with all other organisations," the spokesperson said. Mifsud had already declared his interest in taking up the role of sec- ond deputy governor, a post cre- ated by finance minister Edward Scicluna. He will work alongside deputy goverbor Sandro Demarco, appointed at the beginning of 2014. Mifsud has held various director- ships with companies such as AIB insurance, Eurojet, Middlesea In- surance, C. Fino & Sons, Amalga- mated Investments plc, Bay Street Finance, a shareholder in Allcare Insurance, and as a consultant to the Tumas Group he spearheaded the $150 million Portomaso project in St Julian's. He was governor of the financial services regulator MFSA between 1992 and 1996, and as chairman of a minority investors group, Mifsud later campaigned against the acqui- sition of Mid-Med Bank by HSBC Malta. His association with the Labour Party saw him chairing the party's fund-raising committee between 1992 and 1995, and then chairing One Productions between 1999 and 2001. The Gzira seafront has now had its pavement claimed by catering businesses seeking al fresco dining space. Tribunal 'sympathised' with objectors, but said a balance has to be reached between business and pedestrians Alfred Mifsud: had opposed HSBC purchase of Mid-Med bank