Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/530451
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 21 JUNE 2015 8 News JAMES DEBONO BIRGU'S Labour mayor John Boxall has told MaltaToday the council favours the development of a private old people's home in the vicinity of the protected Ta' Hawli valley, which is outside develop- ment zones. But he denied having ever had any contact with the St Paul Resi- dential Homes, a company owned by Joseph Gaffarena, which has presented a planning application to develop the home, which is still be- ing screened by MEPA. Back in 2011 Boxall revealed that discussions had started between two private entities over a piece of land that would serve as an elderly home for residents of Birgu and surrounding localities, in the St Lawrence band club's newsletter. He wrote that the council was asked to be "indirectly involved in the project and to give its approval after the conclusion of negotia- tions". But Boxall has now said he has had no contact with the developers, having learnt of the planning appli- cation presented last year from his Facebook newsfeed. The mayor said he would be call- ing on MEPA to consult with the council. Although the private home will only be offering services against payment, Boxall said Birgu was "badly in need of an old people's home due to its ageing popula- tion." He said the existing old people's home in neighbouring Bormla was not enough to satisfy the demand for the Cottonera area. "There is no space for an old peo- ple's home inside Birgu's urban area, which already has a very high density," Boxall said when quizzed on the impact on one of the few re- maining green lungs of Cottonera. But when it was pointed out to him that the area is a protected valley, Boxall replied that before making judgements one should study the exact location where the old people's home will be de- veloped. "The idea site would be on an area overlooking the valley," which he described as a glacis – an artificial slope which forms part of the fortifications. He pointed out that this area has already been devolved to the council to be developed as a public garden at a site known as Ta' Fuq il-Hawli. In September 2013 Joseph Gaf- farena applied to construct a four- storey high home for the elderly in an afforested area outside develop- ment zones in Birgu, over a 2,770 square metre site in the vicinity of the protected Tal-Hawli valley in Triq San Dwardu and Triq Guzep- pi Decelis, near the former Fortini secondary school. The application was presented by Prof. Mark Brincat on behalf of St Paul Residential Homes and fresh plans were submitted to MEPA on 22 May 2015. The case is currently awaiting the submission of the requirements in- dicated in the screening letter. Labour MP Charles Buhagiar is listed as "project architect" in the plans submitted to MEPA. Buhagiar is also the government- appointed chairman of the Build- ing Industry Consultative Council, whose Valletta offices are the sub- ject of a controversial government expropriation when it was revealed that Gaffarena's son Marco was paid €1.65 million in cash and lands for his 50% ownership of the offices on Old Mint Street. The Birgu site at Tal-Hawsli, which is fully owned by Gaffarena's company, has already had a 1992 request for garages and stores re- fused by MEPA. In 1997 however, it issued Marco Gaffarena a permit to erect a maisonette and a garage over a small part of the site. The area is designated by the Grand Harbour Local Plan as one of scientific and ecological impor- tance: the area includes almond, carob and olive trees, prickly pears, peach and fig trees, vines, and trees of heaven and oleanders. The developers of the old people's home have acknowledged that they would have to uproot a number of trees and demolish existing rubble walls. Birgu council favours ODZ old people's home JAMES DEBONO SATIATION is not in Marco Gaf- farena's dictionary: a shareholder in the now sanctioned illegally built petrol station in Qormi, and a noted beneficiary of government largesse in expropriation, apart from other business interests, he has also ap- plied to construct a small 20 square metre kiosk in a strategic commer- cial location in Spinola, St Julian's. Constructing the proposed kiosk would involve the excavation of a basement under the footprint of the structure. The kiosk from which the owner plans to sell snacks and drinks is being proposed on the public pave- ment near the former playground opposite the Hilton hotel. The application, which is still be- ing processed, was presented in September 2014. In the application Gaffarena states that the owner – the Lands Department – has been notified of this application. Technically any individual can apply for development on public land if he or she informs the lands department of his or her intention to do so. The lands department can only decide on whether to allow the de- velopment after MEPA issues the permit. The Government Property Divi- sion's website says that if you are interested in placing a mobile kiosk on a government public space "you should first seek MEPA's approval for the mobile kiosk. If this is grant- ed then GPD will evaluate your re- quest and may grant you a permit". Initially Gaffarena had also ap- plied to develop a kiosk in Spinola bay itself but this application was later withdrawn. An application for a seven square metre 'tourist information' kiosk was approved in the same area in January. The Malta Tourism Au- thority had objected to this appli- cation, claiming that such a kiosk would create more pedestrian and traffic congestion in the area, but the proposal was approved after Transport Malta approved the pro- posal. Gaffarena applies for kiosk on public land